THE REPORT [0F] HENDRICK & NICKLAS TWO MOHAWK INDS MADE; WHO WENT UPON A DISCOVERY TOWARDS CROWN POINT TIONDAROG &C. 1755. Novr 2d. Encamped upon a large Mountain near the Lake; 3d. Still keeping to the westward of Lake George along the mountains, and encamped upon a mountain calld Tekaghwean garaneghton, heard firing in the Woods but could not come up with any Parties tho came upon several Tracks; imagining to be hunting Parties. 4th. Discovered a French Guard of abt: 30 or 40 men who had two Hutts upon a Point of the Lake, they look'd for a place of Ambush and encamped so near the Guard that they heard them speak; 5th. Laid still trying to get a scalp 6th. Went to the Road which goes along the Water side towards Tiyondaroga in Order to get a scalp but no Body pass'd and they returned, and built up a small fire some Distance from that Guard, at night observd the fires of an Encampment so bright that it appeard to them like Day. 7h. In the Morning resolvd to discover the Encampment nearer accordingly they went, and found it to their surpriz and amazement so large that they never seen the like and the Encamp at this Lake was nothing in Comparison did not see any Indians in the Encampm returned to the Place of Ambush. 8th. Laid there this Day for a scalp. 9. Provision growing short resolvd to return and report their Discovery. 10. Travelled back. 11. In the Evening arrived at the Camp. A REPORT OF THE SCOUTT TO THE EASTWARD. Lake George 13th Novr 1755. having marcht abt Twenty five miles to the Eastwd of this Camp being hinderd by the Rain from going farther, Sent Severall advanc'd Scoutts: But none of us Discoverd any thing Nothing more has happen'd. PEITER BECKER To Major Gen" Johnson. REPORT OF SERGT. THOMPSON. Sergt Thompson of the Rhode Island regt Went down the Lake yesterday with a Battoe & 4 Men between 6 & 7 a Clock in the Evening rowed abt 4 hours came to a little Island abt 8 miles off halted struck up a little Fire & eat some victuals when Connor in his Battoe joined them, then set off & stopped at a little Island abt one Mile on this side the first Narrows, there went ashoar & reconnoitred it, thus went round it twice in a Battoe by wch time it was abt Sunrise, thus supposed were discovered by the Enemy, for immediately a large white Flag was hoisted on a point of the Main Land on the East side of the Lake from hence not above a Mile from where we were & is one of the points of Land wch makes the narrows wch did not seem to me to be above 40 yards wide, the Flag continued flying till we were out of sight. Connor thinks the Flag was 7 or 8 Miles from the Island where they discovered it. They say that to the Northward of the sd White Flag, they discovered a large Smoak wch appeared to be a Mile long. REPORT OF THE SCOUTS TO SOUTH BAY. Lake george November ye 15th 1755 then set out a Scout with two of ye Mohawk officers and two of their Indians and three of my men went towards ye South Bay to See what Descovery we Could make of an army Comming against us and traveled about East South East til we came where our advance guard goes and finding their Camps But no body there we Stil Stered about ye Same Course til night Came on & we Lookt out for a Conveniant Place to Camp and there Campt ye Next morning we sent out three Scouts & when they Returned one of them thought he saw a smoak & a nother heard a gun & then we set out toward where they thought they see the Smoak and heard ye gun and there we Stopt and Sent out Scouts to see what Descovery they Could make who Returned and made no Descovery and then we set out about ye same Course and traveled til Sun about one hour high and there we Left a party and went to ye South Bay to see what Discovery we Could make and marcht about two miles Down ye Bay & made no Discovery of ye Enimy that was new. But Saw a Large Body of Ducks and gees and then we Returned to ye party and Lookt out a Conveniant place to Camp and as Soon as Day Light appeard we Set out to ye Bay again with a party to see what Descovery we Could make and marcht Down ye Bay about three miles and saw no Enimy but saw Large Incampments where they Landed their Battos and then we Returned to ye party and found all well and then we set out back again to ye Came house and marcht til about Sun about one hour high and then we Came upon another Large incampment that ye Enimy had maid and then we marcht about half a mile & Came upon ye tract of four Enimy which we supposed to be going to fourt Edward and then we marcht homeward about three miles where we incampt that night next morning we Set out home to our Camp and found all well. (Endorsed) Report of Capt Putnam & Comps Scout to South Bay. ISRAEL PUTNAM Capt. LIEUT. WATERBURY'S REPORT. November the 15 Day A D 1755. Set out on a Cout In a Botto By his honers ordors Jeneral Jonson his honers horders Was for three Battos and twenty for Men Bot When Came to Be Redy to Go one third Declind to proseed and So I Set of With 2 Battos and 16 men a Bout seuen a Clock at Night and proseded til I came a Boue the first Naros and stoped on a Island for to Rest and Coming to Examin of the popel What prouison the had I found Scasity for one half for the tim I Desined to Be Gon so I thot proper to Send Back one Batto and half of the Men and take the other prouison and So prosed Not With Standing I had Bot one third of the Strengh perposed By his honer on the 16 Day of Instant I lay Stil til Sonset and then I Set out for a Dis Couery and Did prosed as far as the Naros Whar the advansed party Lay the Night Being uery Light I Sopos they Discouer us forst for We Was Betwen the Moon and they and I sopos a Bout three quartor of a Mild Distans When forst Discouered Bov us We Lay a Spel to Consider What was Best Bot they Son Let us Noy they Was a Wake By fiering a Larem Gon and the other party anserd them and It Was the General uote of the popel to Retorn By Being Dis Couered and for Want of provison for We had Not any at all So We Re torn d With sped and Mad No other Discouery of Enymy and We Got In on the 17 Day a Bout 12 a Clock To the onrabel Jenerael Jonson Esquire Commander and Chef of the army at Lake Gorg this Cout proseded By David Waterbery Lt. (Endorsed) Report of Lieut Waterbury of the Enemy at the Narrows. 17 Nov. ORDERS TO LIEUT. RODGERS. You are to proceed with the party under your command to Tiondorogo in order view the posture & strength of the Enemy as distinctly as you possibly can. If you find the Enemy a considerable Body you are to dispatch Two of your party hither with an acct & proceed with the rest to Crown Point where you are to make all the discoveries you can & if possible to take a Prisoner. Given under my hand this 16 day of Novr at ye Camp at Lake George 1755. (Endorsed) Orders to Lieut Rodgers 16 Novr 1755. REPORTS OF LIEUTTS RODGERS & CLAUS. By Orders of the Honble Major General Johnson Lieutt Rodgers & Claus made the following Discoveries at Diontarogo & Crown Point. 1755 Novr 16th In the Evening sat off in a Battoe with 2 Mohawk Inds and one of the Newhampshire Men, came that Night as far as the large Bay of the Lake, att 12 or 14 miles from the Camp where we Lay that Night. 17th Travelled on, discovered nothing. 18th Ditto, heard 3 Canon fired abt 2 or 3 o Clock afternoon. 19th abt 4 in the afternoon came where the french advanced Guard keeps, Lieuts Rodgers & Claus with an Indian went on top of a mountain opposite the Diontorogo Camp, where they discovered at the foot of it the french advance Guard, seen them walk upon the Beech judged their Number abt 40 or 50. Observed the Smoke of Diandorogo Camp to be at the same Place Capt Rodgers discovered it, but the Indns said it was then not to be compared to the smoke he seen when there a few Days before, heard frequent firing of Guns & Drums beating staid till dark, & then went back to our Company. 20th Early in the morning all of us went further down towards Diondarago abt 2 miles from where we encampd and coming to a mountain opposite the Camp went up & laying there a little while heard a Gun near us tried to come up to it but found it to be at the advance Guard. Hendrick the Indian with Lieut Claus went upon an Eminence of the Mountain to view the french Camp, but the Ind" was surprised to find such an alteration for he said the smoke he seen when there last was much larger and he could not but thinck the greatest part marchd off for Want of Provisions, Abt noon sat off for Crown point; 21t Abt 3 o Clock afternoon came within fair Prospect of Crown Point Fort and the adjacent Plantations, but could make no remarkable Discovery as the Place seemed quite desolate to us we could observe no smoke in the Fort or neighbouring houses tho' we staid till dark, saw no Body stirring, no Craft upon the Lake, heard only 2 or 3 Guns fired in the Woods over the Lake, We thought to intercept a Prisoner there or burn their Grain but seeing no house inhabited, & no stack wth Grain (which article Henry the Indian observed to be too precious to the french as to leave it upon stacks:) we returned at Dark a little ways & encamped. 22d Weather & Scarcity of Provisions would not permit us to lay by any longer, wherefore took to our Retour, had an other view upon an eminent Rock of a Mountain of Diondaroga, heard firing of Guns & Cutting of Wood, & seen some smokes on the other side of Lake Champlain, when the old Indian was convinced of the Enemy's marching backward as he said the smoke of ye Camp was higher up the Lack when he saw it last, as also the firing & beating of Drums; 23, 24, 25th Travelled homewards under great deal of hardships suffered by ye severity of the Weather. Which is Report of your Honours Most Obedient humble Servants To The Honoble Major General Johnson. RICHARD RODGERS REPORT OF CAPT FALES UPON EASTERN SCOUT. Monday November ye 17th AD 1755. I marched with a parte of men from these Camps and Went on ye Wagon Rod about 3 miles and then tornd to ye East and marched about. 7. miles then touren to ye Northerd of the Est and marched about. 20. miles and thar in Campt and a Bout Daylitin I herd a Bout . 21. grat gones fird a Bout North from us. in ye moring I marched to the North. 4 or 5 miles and then torned and mad homard Rangen ye Woods But Dident Discouer an thing at al. ELIPHALET FALES Capt. ORDERS TO CAPT RODGERS Fort Wm Henry 29th Jany 1756. SR You are Hereby Ordered to March the Partey Under your Command ye nighest And Best way you Can to Crown Point There Take a View of that Fortress & out works & make minnets of the Same if you meet Indieans or any Enemy in your way you are to take them Prisoners or Kill them or distress them any other ways or Means your Prudence shall direct you are to take Good Care of your men and not Expose them too much you are to use all Immaginable Protection not to Loos a man if it should Snow you are to Return Imedintly to this Fort if you Discover any Large Body of the Enemy you are to send off of the most Active of your men with Intelligence to me as Soon as you Can Preforme this Scoute you are to Return to this Fort with your Partey I heartily wish you success. And am Sr your Humble Servant To Capt Robt Rotgers. B GLEASIER. CAPT ROGERS' REPORT Fort Wm Henry Janry ye 29th 1756. Set out with a Partey of fifty men with Orders to Look Into Crown Point & the Advance Battreys that is Built Round it the first Day we marhd Down the Lake George aboute Eighten Miles & Campd so we Proceed by the westrd of the Greate Mountains And Continud our March until the 24 of Febry than Clambed up a greate Mounton to the westrd of Crown Point about one Mile & Gave it the name of Ogdens Mount there we took a Particular View of the sd Fort & the Ridouts that is Built Round it & a Plan of the Same we Laide there untell the Evening then went Down the Mounten marhd through a small Village Aboute half a mile from the Fort to the Suthord there we Laide in Ambush upon each side of the Roade that leads from the Fort through Sad Village there we Laide Untill about nine of the Clock in Morg and there Came Along one French man which we took Prisoner & 2 more were upon the Roade Accomming towards us but Discoverd our Ambush & made a Speedy Escape to the Fort & some of my men pursued them within Gun Shoot of the Fort but could not overtake them So we Being Discouerd thought it needles to waite any Longer for Prisoners. but Imedently set fire to the Barns & Houses where was abundance of wheat & other Graiens & we Killa there Cattle, Horses and Hoogs in Number Aboute fifty Left none Living in sd Village to our knowledge aboute 11 o'clock we marchd Home ward Leving the Village on fire the 5th Inst In the Morning one of our men was taken Sick so I stooped with Seven men & sent the Rest Home with Captu Cushinn & Lievt Ogden they Arrd at our Fort Aboute 6 In the Evening & I got Home the next Day Aboute 4 o'clock In ye afternoon with the Remainder of my Partey A true Account by your Humble Servant. ROBERT RODGERS. Witnesses SETH CUSHING. JOURNAL OF A SCOUT From Fort William Henry down into Lake Champlain pursuant to an order from his Excellency Major General Shirley to Captin Robert Rogers-as followeth-viz1. June ye 20th 1756 Set out with a party of fifty men in five Whale Boats & Proceeded at abt twenty miles to an Island in Lake George were we encamped ye next day went five miles farther Down ye Lake and there landed, halled out our Boats ashore and carried them over a Mountain about six miles to South Bay whare we arrived ye 3rd July in the afternoon and ye Same evening went down ye Lake at about six miles Distance from ye Forts. July ye 4th towards morning we halled up ye Boats on the East side of the Lake & Concealed them & lay by untill Evening, then set Out again & Passed by Tiantiroga & found we were not Discovered by being so near ye Enemy as to hear ye Senterys Watch word. We judged from the number of their fires they had a body of about two thousand men, & yt ye Lake in this Place to be about Seventy Rods-Continued on till Day light about five miles from ye Fort. then halled Ticondorogo two up ye Boats & Concealed all day on ye Same Shore and discovered Sundry Battoes, about 20 Indians, Loaded and unloaded which ware Comeing & going upon ye lake-in ye Evening of from Ticondorogo ye fifth Day Put of again & attempted to Pass by Crownpoint But thought it imprudent to Pursue this Intention by Reason of the Clearness & light of the Night, so halled up ye 30 going loaded from crown point to bark canoes with 9 empty returning |