REPORT OF CAPT. RODGERS' AND CO'S SCOUT. On the fourteenth Day of October 1755 I Embarked in a Burch Canoe at the Camps on the South End of Lake George with Four Men beside my self & sailed twenty five miles & Landed on the west side of the Lake then Traveled by Land and on the Eighteenth Day I arived on the Mountain on the West side of Crown point there I lay that Night and all the next Day and observed the Enemys motions there & about Crown point and observed Ambuseers Built upon the Mount about Thirty Rods To the Southwest of Crown point fort in the Evening went Down To the Houses that was built upon the lake to the South of Crown point & went Into a barn that was well filld with wheat & left three men & proceeded with one man To make further Discoverys at the fort and found a good place To ambush within Sixty Rods of the fort & Imediatly went back & took our partners & ambushd at the proper place we had found & there we lay Till about Ten of the Clock & observed several Canoes passing up & Down the Lake & sundry men that went out To work about their Secular affairs & Judged the whole that was in the fort to be about five Hundred at length a french man Came out of the fort Towards us without his Gun & Came within fifteen Rods of where we lay then I with another man Run up to him In order to Captivate him-But he Refused To Take Quarter so we kill,d him and Took of his Scalp in plain sight of the fort then Run and in plain veiw about Twenty Rods & made our Escape the same Night we Came Right West of Tianarago about three Miles and upon a Mountain in plain sight of their fort & see large Incampments Round it & heard a vast number of smal arms fired Judged there To be Two Thousand men at Tianarago & on the Twenty first Day Got To Our Canoes about Eight of the Clock in the Morning & found all safe & about Nine of the Clock in the Evening Arived all well at our Encampments where we set out. ROBERT RODGERS The above account is the Cheif Discovery that we made at Crown point & Tioanaragoe. (Endorsed) Capt Rodgers & Cos Acct of Scout to Crown Point rec'd 22 Octor 1755 JONATHAN BUTTERFIELD CAPT. DOLITTLE'S JOURNAL OF HIS SCOUT TO TIONDOROGO. Octobr 24th 1755 after a tedias march over hills and holes we Indeavoured to Disscover ye french on this side of ye Carrying Place but Could not hear any of ye Chaping or Shooting or Druming we went Down To ye Lake but Could not Disscover them Then we Proceeded farther To Tiondaroga where we had a fare View of ye french a little before son set They ware at work Clearing of Land and Choping of Timber they have Cleared a Pint of Land that Looks East a Cross the Water that Runs from Lake George and ye South Bay which is To appearance but little more than Quarter of a Mile a Cross they have built no fort as I could Disscerne neither have they any Great Guns that I could see we Lay all night within about a mile of them saw them Light up ye fires and Beat ye Drums there appears to be about 150 Tents some small Boarded Housen there may [be] about 100 mon as near as I Can Gess we Designd to view ym ye next morning but was Prevented by ye snow filling ye are we then Proceeded Back on ye 25th to Disscover ye french on this side ye Carring Place if Possable we went to the Lake but not near ym but Dissern ye Buildings but could not Disscover ye strength nor numbers but saw that it was on ye west side of ye Lake at a verey Narrow Place ye next morning we Determind to make farther Disscoverey but was Prevented by a thick fogg our Provision being spent Could tarrey no Longer God knows wheather Ever we Get home if we Do I would Humbly Present these fow Lines to Gen1 Wm. Johnson. Reed 28th Oct. 1755. CAPT. REED'S REPORT. 26 of October 1755 in obedience to my orders I marched with 50 men 5 or 6 miles North Est from this Camp made no Discouery of Any Enemy and Set out Sentreys and in camped. 27 Day Sent out a Scout of 4 men About Day Brake and Sundery more Scouts after them the furst Scout Did not Return whilst 2 of the clock in the afternoon and thay said that thay Descoured A path whare thay thought the Enemy had pest gon A Long towards wood Crick. 28 Jest as the Day Brock I went out with 4 men and trauiled 2 or 3 miles North Est and Came to a Camp which Looked varey New and Judged to be made by the Enemey and we went in and thare fier was not all out But we Judged that they had begon 2 ouers or more and they trauiled Right North and maid A Larg Road then I Returned to our Camp and sent out a Scout of 10 men which folowred that Road 3 miels and then thay Could Not folow No futher for the Enemey Scatrad so that thay could not tel which way they went and then thay Returned to the Camp our other Scouts mad no Descovery. 29 Day Send out Sundery Scouts which mad No Discovery of Any Enemey and then we all marched for this Camp and on our Return made no Descovery of any Enemey Nor No New sins. JAMES REED Capt REPORT OF CAPT. RODGERS & CO. OF THEIR SKIRMISH WITH THE ENEMYS ADVANCED GUARD. May it Please your Honour Pursuant to your Orders of ye 29th of October Last I set off with ye Party to me ordered and Went Down ye Lake and ye 31st made a Discovy of a nomber of fires By night Scituated on a Point of Land on ye West Side of ye Lake, upon Which we Landed and Secured our Battoes upon ye Same Side of ye Lake about a mile & half Distance from their Encampment, Next morning Sent out Spies for furthe Discovery, in ye Evening Capt Fletcher one of ye Spies return'd Leaving 2 of ye Spies there, and made Report yt there was four Tents and Sundry Small fires on Sa Point, and upon yt after Consultation it was Concluded advisable to acquaint your Honour of our Discovery and Reinforce us if you thought advisable in order to Proceed further and Make a Push upon our Enemy, accordingly Capt Fletcher was Dispatchd to you with Six men in ye Battoe and Six being return'd as Invaleeds Leving me with nineteen men only, but being un Easie with the Report, I took a Battoe with 5 men and went Down within 25 Rods of their Fires Discovered a Small Fort with Several Small Log Camps within ye Fort which I Judged to Contain about of an 14 acro Said Fort being open towards ye Water The rest Picketted. Made no further Discovery there and Returnd to My Party, found all well except Capt Putnam and ye Spie with him, who was not returned, The next Morning about 10 o the Clock Capt Putnam return'd and ye Spie with him who Gave much the Same acct as above Saving yt ye Enemies Centrys was sett 20 Rods from yr Fires and for a more Crittical examination of ye Enemies Proceedings he went forward till he Came so nigh yt he was fired upon by one of ye Centeries within a Rod of him, But unfortunately upon Preparing to Fire upon him fell into a Clay Pit and wett his Gun made ye Best retreat he was able, hearing ye Enemy Close to their Heels, yy made a Tack & Luckely escapd Safe to our Party, Soon after there was a Discovery made of two Frenchmen upon a Hill a Small Distance, who Called to us, said Hill overlooked our ambush, in a few minutes they retreated, and Two Canoes appeared and went by us & Lay in ye middle of ye Lake about 40 Rods Distance from Each other, Finding by yt Behaviour, there was a Party Coming by Land yt we must inevitably be between 2 Fires. Upon Which I ordered Two Battoes into ye Water Lent Grant with 6 men, and I went into ye other with 6 more & Put on Board Each a Wall peice and Went out towards ye Canoes, who seemed to Ly upon their Paddles as tho' they had a Design to Decoy us into some mischief by their Party yt was Designed to Surround our People on Shore, and then attack us by keeping us between ym an their Land party finds there Designe attacked them first put ym to ye Rout and surprised so yt they made to ye shore Where Cap Putnam with ye rest of our Party Lay, but unhappy to ym he was Prepared for ym shot and kill'd yr Cockson; and by our Wall Peices &c; kill'd Divers of ym Butt upon his fireing upon y Canoe, Immeadiatly ye Enemy Upon that was upon his Back fired upon and had but Just time to Shove his Battoe into ye Water, and Gett into Before ye Enemy appeared npon ye Waters Edge and Made a Brisk fire upon him Shot Thro' his Blanket in Divers Places, and thro' ye Battoe and then made to our Battoes for refuge, upon his Escape we pursued ye Cannoes with a constant fire upon them till we came within Eighty Rods of yr fires, Discovered a nomber of men upon Each Side of ye shore within about 40 Rods of us Gave ym Each a Broad side which put ym to ye Bush, and Gave us a Clear Passage Homewards and after we Got fairly into ye Lake Lay upon Our Oars and Inquired after the Circomstances of ye Party Found none killed, but one Wounded which Gave Joy to all of us after so Long an Engagement which I Judge was near 2 Hours &c: And Then we made ye Best of our Way to our Head quarters about half Way, We met With ye Reinforcemt-But upon Consultation, Thought Best to report What had happend Without further proceeding, and accordingly arrived here to ye Encampmt ye 3d Instant-All which is Hum Submitted by your Dutyfull Servts. Camp at Lake George Novr 3d 1755. (Endorsed) Report of Capt Rodgers &Co of their Skirmish with the Enemys advanced Guard. reced 3 Noyr 1755. ROBERT RODGERS REPORT OF CAPT. BILLING. Lake George Novr ye 2 1755. I ye subscriber Beeing ordered With a number of men to Go Near ye Narrows to Join Capt Rogers and his men but on my way their I met Capt Rogers Returning home he Beejing Discouer'd by a Party of the Enemy & attacked & thought Best to Return to ye Camp & I also Returned Back With him by his Desire. ROGER BILLING Capt. REPORT OF CAPT ANGELL. Camp Lake George Novembr 3: 1755. Report of my Procedings on a Scout Towards Tenondorogo. So according to your Orders of the 31 of OctTM Last I put of from the Camp in the Evening of the same Day about four miles Down the Lake I saw a fier on the West Shoar and went Nigh to it being Informed by the people With me that Our Scouts Commonly made fiers Near that place I Proceeded about Seven Miles from hear I saw a fier on the East Side on a Neck of Low Land and passed it at sum Distance about fourteen Miles from hear I saw a fier on the West Shoar Which I passed at two or three miles Distance So Proceeded Down the Lake tel about four o'clock in the morning the Wind Blew fresh and Rained and was very Dark I being unserten how far Wee had got Down the Lake put on Shoar hall'd up the Canoe and staid til morning then found that we had not got Within Seven or Eight Miles of the Narrows Concluded to travel that Day by Land accordingly at Eight o'clock I satt out Leut Waterbery and one man more and Left two men with the Canoe Wee Traveled til Past Noon along the sides of Mountains allmost Impasable and got on the top of a very high Mountain Where I had a fine Prospect of this Lake and of the Mountains on Champlaine I judged Wee had got about five miles by four hours hard traveling I allso thought I could see all from their by the Looks of the Land Within a Little Ways of the Narrows and Judged I Could see aney advantagous ground this side the Narrows Where the Enemy Would be likely to post their Guard I could see no Smoak only at a great Distance towards Champlain Which I Judged the Products of the Camp at Carelon finding the Mountains so Bad to pass Concluded to Return to the Canoe and go Down the Lake that Night about Eight miles if I Did not Discouer aney Enemy Soner acordingly I did and at Dark Lanched the Canoe and Proceded it Rained and Was very Dark so I could have seen aney Light a great Distance wee padled Down the Lake about three hours got wherethe Lake was very Narrow Could Discouer no Light Judged I had got By where the party was posted acording to what Information I had had Looked at it not Safe to Land there that Night as it was so Near the Enemys Camp knowing Capt Rogers had been thar a Day or two before and that Likely he Might have alarmed them and that by that means they Might auoyd keeping fires in Order to Lay in Wate for an opurtunity to Discouer our Spies I Judged that If I should be Discouered in the Day time that it was more than an Equil Chance to be taken So taking Every Circumstance into Consideration Looked at it Beter to Return unsuccessfull then to Run So Big Risk of being Discouered as I Looked at it I must Land there and stay a nother Day about ten O Clock that Night Sett out for hoome where I arrived about 12 O Clock the next Day all Well To Major Gener Johnson (Endorsed) Lake George Nov 3. 1755 Capt Angells Letter. SAM ANGELL. THE REPORT OF JAMES CONNOR OF COL. COCKCROFTS REGT WHO WENT IN A BATTOE WITH 5 MEN MORE TO DISCOVER THE POSTURE OF THE ENEMYS ADVANCED GUARD ON LAKE GEORGE. Parted from the Camp 5 Nov" in the Evening & lay by near the mouth of the first narrow that night-All next day lay still, till Evening abt 7 a Clock, then went on & abt 10 discovered one of the Enemys advanced Fires on the East shore, proceeded & came in between 2 of their Flank Fires, then went in upon their main Fire & discovered them releiving their Sentrys we were 5 in number then returned about 4 miles in the middle of the Lake, put in on the East Shoar into a little Creek & lay there that night The 7 Inst in the Morning he & two men went by Land & concealed themselves in some Spruce Shrubs where the Enemy had been felling some Timber abt 5 Rod from the Lake side wch is there about 300 yards wide, saw the Enemy come down to the West side of the Lake & carry away some Timber wch lay there floating & carried it up to their Encampt upon handspikes, heard Workmen Chopping & hamering. Saw the Guards from the Two Advanced Fires upon the Lake side, come in, in Two Birch Canoes, each of wch contained 12 or 13 men. Saw no Indians. discovered a Breast work round their Incampt with pickets put up like ours here, & several Log houses within it & suppose there may be between 150 or 160 men there, lay there til it began to rain hard & the Enemy left off working wch judge was between 10 & 11 a Clock yesterday morning, then came away & joined the other men at the Battoe lays still till about 12 a Clock at night, then set off for this Camp, about 3 this morning struck up a little fire upon a small Island abt 20 miles from hence about half an hour afterwards heard a whooping of Indians on the East side of the Lake kept a strict watch till Day break when the whooping was repeated more stronly, then set off in the Battoe homewards & made no further Discoveries. Camp at Lake George 8 Novr Afternoon taken by me (Endorsed) The Report of James Connor relating to the Enemys Advanced Guard. PETER WRAXALL A REPORT OF THE SCOUT TO THE N. E. OF THIS INCAMPMENT. Camp at Lake George 8th Novr 1755. Having according to Orders Gone the Distance wh we Reach'd: the 6th sent out Two Scouts Imediately one for South Bay the other for wood Crick. the one that went to wood Crick returnd the same Evening and acquainted me they had Discoverd Newly beating Tracts to the sd wd upon wh on the 7th at day break sent four ye same way to reach the falls of wood Creek But being a Rainy day & having no Compass within they went about S E as nigh as I can judge from their Information, and In the Close of the Evening Came up with a Tract Just Trod which they Immediately follow'd: & not Long before they discoverd the Rise of a smoke from a small hutt on the side of a hill, they made a halt & Concluded to send one forwarded to make what discoverys he Cou'd (the other lay in ambush abt 30 rod off) on his Coming near he Discovered Seven Nigh the fire Three french and four Indians. On wh he returned to his party and Acquainted them of their Numbers, upon wh they Concluded that as soon as it was Dark to go & attack 'em in the mean Time the person that Had made the discovery went & Lay to watch 'em to see if they sett any Sentrys he had not sett Long before it Grew Dark: and he Discoverd four of 'em Come'g within a Rod or Two of him, & having a Great Cold Could not refrain Coughing: wh he did at the Time, with his hand to his mouth as the first of the four Came across him : upon wh he thinking they had discoverd him, He fires on him & he Dropt & Scremd out Bitterly he Imediately made to the party & they went of from the place & return'd to me this morning at Ten o Clock; the Scout that went to South Bay having reached it, Stay'd some Time To make what Discovery they Coud. But returned not having Discoverd anything-Nothing more that's material has happen'd : MICH THODEY. |