French Prisoner at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA
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The French Prisoner is Belestre. His rank is Ensign.
François-Louis Picoté de Belestre is his full name.
In June 1757 June François-Louis Picoté de Belestre is
taken prisoner to Fort Loudoun Winchester VA.
So let us set the scene.
Let us take a look at some of the events leading up to capture of this French Ensign officer.
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Compiled by Jim Moyer 2016, 6/10/2018, 6/11/18, 6/12/18, 6/10/19, updated 8/1/2021
Picture by Jim Moyer of the Cherokee greeting our Captain George Mercer at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA. In the foreground is Major Andrew Lewis on the horse who accompanied the Cherokee.
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See those Cherokee in the picture?
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at Fort Loudoun in 23 April 1757.
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One of the Cherokee in that picture was Swallow.
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More than a month later after this April visit to Fort Loudoun Winchester VA, it is June 6, 1757,
when Swallow dies in a skirmish.
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That skirmish though, results in the capture of a French prisoner.
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That French prisoner is Belestre.
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He is taken as prisoner to be held and questioned at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA.
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And that interview was initially conducted by Baker's company. That interview of the French prisoner was not authorized by the man who was recently appointed head of all Indian Affairs, Edmond Atkin.
Atkin raised a huge complaint about this.
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Back to that Name of Swallow?
Just as an aside we wanted to wonder about this name.
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We thought of Swallow for its Anglo meaning of swallowing, so we wondered about the legend of the Frog swallowing the Sun, to explain eclipses of the sun? And then we checked for eclipses around this time and there was one in February and August of 1757.
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But the name Swallow may have been a group within the Cherokee.
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About that French Prisoner:
Disambiguation:
Beware not to confuse the above with the father, François-Marie Picoté de Belestre.
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Father is François-Marie.
The prisoner captured is the son – François-Louis.
Both have the last name Picoté de Belestre.
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Confusing Father with son is easy for two reasons:
1. Both were in French and Indian War theatre at the same time.
2. Both names are very similar.
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The Story of this Prisoner held at Fort Loudoun
A Letter from George Washington to John Stanwix, 15 June 1757 [Fort Loudoun] June 15th 1757
This is the intelligence GW gains from this prisoner. But GW thinks this man is Gasconian.
The name of the Officer, taken, according to his own account, is Velistre [Belestre] ; and of those killed, Lasosais and St Oure, all Ensigns.
The Commandant at Du Que[s]ne and its Dependances, is Delignery; a Knight of the Military Order of St Louis; and Captain of a company of detached troops from the marine.3 This Officer likewise says, that the Garrison at Fort Du Quesne consists of 600 French and 200 Indians. I believe he is a Gasconian. We sustained on our side the loss of the brave swallow warrior, & one other Indian wounded; whom the party brought in on a Bier, with no other sustenance for the four last days, than such as they derived from wild onions.4 Mr Atkin (who is now here) and I, shall use our endeavours to have the prisoner brought to this place.
Source:
More on this prisoner is told in following links are from the French and Indian War Foundation newsletters.
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Please scroll down to reach the story on François-Louis Picoté de Belestre by Steve Resan on this French prisoner:
Part 1:
Part 2:
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Adrian O’Connor’s Valley News column provided by Dr Carl J Ekberg is about Belestre:
About Adrian O'connor who wrote the above:
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Chronology to show
how packed the News
was from April to July 1757
Red Cloud of War hovering over Fort Loudoun Winchester VA.
Painting by local artist Eric Cherry, former illustrator of Batman for DC Comics.
Sitting on the left by the corner of Fort Loudoun is Colonel George Washington looking towards the West, as the sun is setting on a changing landscape out there, one of war, one of a clash of ways of life, one of war between white nations with those who came before in between.
A moment in 1757.
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April 24, 1757 148 Cherokee visit George Mercer at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA.
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They learn there are no presents as promised for their help in scouring the woods for French and their allied Indians.
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Here is the threat by the Cherokee to take what they want since the promise of presents by the Long Knives (Virginia) never materialized.
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On their way home from Winchester VA, the Cherokee make good on this threat.
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The White Settlers seek retribution. The Situation continually worsens as the Cherokee head south to home, culminating in the Anglo Cherokee War.
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May 5, 1757 Virginia Regiment relieved of responsibility for Fort Cumberland. Maryland is to take over completely.
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This reorganization sends Lt Col Adam Stephen and Captain Mercer to help Gov Littleton in Charleston SC.
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This reorganization stipulates Edmond Atkin is to control allied Indian affairs.
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June 9, 1757 Two Companies, led by Lt Col Adam Stephen and Captain George Mercer of the Virginia Regiment is in South Carolina, anticipating an invasion from both sea and land, according to Lt Gov Dinwiddie. Today is a Court of Enquiry at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA to determine why Lt John Campbell did not show up with Lt Col Adam Stephen in Charleston SC.
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June 10, 1757 Cherokee and Virginia Regiment Scout return to Winchester reporting that Cherokee Swallow was killed in skirmish. They bring back the French prisoner Belestre captured in that skirmish
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June 3, 1757, Edmond Atkin assumes control of Indians in Winchester VA, but he wants to extend his control of who get to interrogate the French officer Belestre first, 19 June 1757.
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June 25, 1757 Warning of invasion no longer true. Main enemy force heading to Fort Augusta PA instead
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July 29, 1757 Two deserters are executed by hanging at Fort Loudoun Winchester VA.
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Story of the Skirmish
and capture of Belestre
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VIRGINIA REGIMENT VERSION:
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From James Baker writes to Colonel GW
10 June 1757
Fort Cumberland [Md.] June 10th 1757
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Sir
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I Yesterday returned to this place
[ meaning Fort Cumberland ]
with the Cherokees
and have the Satisfaction t
o acquaint you that on
the 5th Instant
we fell on two Tracks
about 35 Miles beyond
the three Forks of Yohagany
in a small path that led
towards this place,
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we had not followed those Tracks
above eight or Ten Miles,
before we met 10 Frenchmen
returning from a Scout,
our foremost Indian
discovered them first
and sat down very cose
we all following his example,
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when the Frenchmen came
within about fifty paces
they saw our Men all Naked,
and called to us
and ask’d who we were,
at which time we all rising together
fired on them
which they returned,
we waited not to lode again,
but run in with our Tomahawks
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the Frenchmen then
making of as fast as they cou’d,
but the Indians out runing them
took two of them prisoners,
the French lost six Men
two killed dead on the Spot,
two wounded,
and two taken prisoners[.]
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Our loss tho’ fewer in number i
s greater to us, the
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and another Indian Wounded in both Thighs[.]1
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The Indians was so enraged
at the loss of their head Man
that it was imposible
to save the other prisoner.
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Among the Frenchmen
there was three Officers,
two of which was killed
and the other [Belestre] we have here.
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I send the Instructions of two of the Officers here inclosed.
[The author of this blog told this story recently: The Story of the Spring Onion. See Col George Washington's reference to onion.]
We have suffered greatly on our return not tasting a morsel for four days, and carrying the Wounded Man on our backs.
[Editor's note: That man was the wounded son of the killed warrior Swallow]
I cannot tell when I shall come down the Indians are not determined I am Sir Your Most Obt Humble Servant.
J. Baker
ALS, DLC:GW.
1. According to James Livingston, the wounded Indian was the Swallow Warrior’s son (Livingston to GW, 14 June 1757).
2. For the French version of the encounter see GW to John Stanwix, 15 June 1757, n.2.
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Source of letter from Baker:
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See Another letter coming from Fort Cumberland 14 June 1757 describing the skirmish and the prisoners taken.
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From George Washington at Fort Loudoun to John Stanwix, 15 June 1757
To Colonel Stanwix Sir,
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I have the pleasure to inform you, that a scouting party, consisting of 5 Soldiers, and 15 Cherokee Indians, who were sent out the 20th ultimo, towards the Ohio, under Lt Baker, returned the 8th instant to Fort Cumberland with 5 scalps, and a french Officer prisoner; having killed two other Officers of the same party. Mr Baker met with this party (10 french, 3 Officers) on the head of Turtle-creek, 20 miles distance from Fort Du Quesne (the day after they had parted with 50 Shawnese Indians returning from war) and wou’d have killed and made prisoners of them all, had not the death of the indian chief, who was killed in that skirmish, prevented their pursuing them.1
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The name of the Officer, taken, according to his own account, is Velistre [this is misspelled – this is our prisoner Belestre ]; and of those killed, Lasosais and St Oure, all Ensigns.2
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This Officer [ my note – our prisoner Belestre] likewise says, that the Garrison at Fort Du Quesne consists of 600 French and 200 Indians. I believe he is a Gasconian.
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Source:
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Gasconian?
See more about what was thought of Gasconians.
See more about the area called Gascony.
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THE FRENCH VERSION:
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2. The governor general of New France reported to Paris on 12 July 1757:
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“The English had no other successes
against us until June 5th,
when we lost Messieurs de La Saussaye,
St. Ours, and Bellêtre [Belestre],
the first an ensign en pied
in the troops of Isle Royale,
and the two others ensigns
en second in the troops of this colony.
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These 3 officers were returning
with 3 Canadians from Fort Cumberland,
where they had no opportunity to attack.
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They were slain
with the 3 Canadians
a little this side of the height of land,
by 20 Englishmen or savages lying in Ambush,
who fired point blank at them”
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(marquis de Vaudreuil to the Minister, in Stevens and Kent, Wilderness Chronicle of Northwestern Pennsylvania, 98–104).
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Source of Founders Online footnote above:
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A great Argument
about who has the Right
to Interrogate the prisoner,
Belestre
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this section added by Jim Moyer 6/11/2018
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More to follow on this part of the story.
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Atkin, the Indian Agent in charge of Indian Affairs is upset that some of Washington’s men interrogated the French Officer prisoner before he Atkin had.
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To George Washington from Edmond Atkin,
19 June 1757
Sir,
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When the Swallows People
came to Town this afternoon,1
with the Young French Officer their Prisoner,
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they came strait to my Lodgings,
to pay their Compliment;
and soon after carried him away to their own,
to eat some Victuals,
Hunger being uppermost in their Thoughts.
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In the Evening,
before I would put you to the Trouble
to attend
(as I had determined
to examine him
then in the presence
of yourself, &
Mr Croghan Sir Wm Johnson’s Deputy),
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I Sent to inquire
whether I might
have him brought to me.
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And he was not to be found …
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Soon after standing at my door, I Saw your Quarter Master Mr Hamilton hastening by, in quest, as I learnt from himself, of my Interpreter (that is the King’s) Mr Smith, & of a Frenchman whose name he declined telling me, in order to carry them to Heath’s Ordinary to interpret for one or two Persons that wanted to talk with the Prisoner.
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In answer to My Question, how the Prisoner came there, he Said, he was carried there by an Indian and to another, who was it that wanted to talk with the Prisoner, I could get no Satisfactory Answer at all from him. At his Return with Mr Smith in Company, standing still in the Door, I charged the latter to go to Heath’s, & to bring away the Indian with his Prisoner directly to me.2
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At the Same time directing myself to both I Said,
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I wondered how any Person whatever could presume (I beleive in my warmth I said also, dare) to take that Method to examine the Prisoner,
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before I myself, or you the Commanding Officer of the Forces here, had had an Opportunity of asking a single Question of him?
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Source:
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Who is to handle
Allied Indian Affairs?
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A big reorganization, 16 May 1757, of the Virginia Regiment, reduced number of companies from 16 to 10 and of “technically” or “officially” of relieving Colonel George Washington with allied Indian Affairs and installing Edmond Atkin in charge of our allied Indians.
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Another big change earlier was on 5 May 1757, relieved the VA Regiment of any responsibilities for Fort Cumberland and for Lt Col Adam Stephen and Captain George Mercer to help Governor Littleton in Charleston SC.
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4. Edmond Atkin (b. 1707), an Englishman and longtime merchant of Charleston, S.C., was in England from 1750 until 1756 when he persuaded the Board of Trade to create the office of superintendent of Indian affairs for the southern colonies and secured the position for himself. Atkin joined Lord Loudoun in New York in October 1756 and remained with him until after the conference with the governors in Philadelphia in March 1757. Atkin left Philadelphia on 26 Mar. and came to Williamsburg. In early June he went to Winchester, arriving there on the third.
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Source of footnote is Founders Online:
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June 3, 1757, Edmond Atkin assumes control of Indians in Winchester VA, but he wants to extend his control of who get to interrogate the French officer Belestre first, 19 June 1757.
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Should not Colonel George Washington and he, Edmond Atkin, interview the prisoner first?
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What was the intel
from Interrogating Belestre?
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GW writes to Stanwix on 15 June 1757:
The name of the Officer, taken, according to his own account, is Velistre [this is misspelled – this is our prisoner Belestre ]; and of those killed, Lasosais and St Oure, all Ensigns.2
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This Officer [ my note – our prisoner Belestre] likewise says, that the Garrison at Fort Du Quesne consists of 600 French and 200 Indians. I believe he is a Gasconian.
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See more about the Gascons of Gascony.
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Source:
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Other Reports Match Belestre’s intel?
Some French deserters disputed the report of Belestre’s numbers.
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INVASION THREAT emerges
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Summary
Colonel George Washington reads between the lines. Captain Spotswood is missing, right at the same time Baker reports success of capturing Belestre, a French Officer. But Indians and members of Spotswood’s company show up at Fort Cumberland warning of a large body of the enemy with artillery is approaching. Washington wonders if these men and Indians deserted Spotswood. But Colonel George Washington has to take this report of an invasion seriously.
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Dagworthy warning a large body of the enemy is approaching, 14 June 1757.
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To George Washington from John Stanwix,
18 June 1757
From John Stanwix
Camp near Carlisle [Pa.] June. 18th 1757
Sir
I recd both yours of the 15th & 16th of June, by the Favour of Colonel Armstrong & some hour’s before that had recd intelligence from Capt: Dagworthy & Capt. Beal of their intelligence of the Motion of the French & Indians towards Fort Cumberland,1 on the receipt of which I directly apply’d to the Magistrates here for Waggons, for the Baggag artillery, Ammunition and Provisions: & the moment they are provid’d shall March with the Five Comps. of the First Battalion of the Royl Americans and what I can get together of Colonel Armstrongs Battalion wch I am hopefull will amount in the whole to six hundred men,
.shall march to Shippensburgh and from thence towards Winchester2
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as I am inform’d there is thirty miles the other way to Fort Cumberland thrô the woods where there is no roads cut,
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and am the more inclin’d to come to Winchester to joyn you as it semes to be (for the reasons you give) the properest place to make a Stand
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& concert such measures as may be best for his Majestys service and shall depend a good deal upon your judgment & experience in the Opperations in this Country, which you know by being long in it & I a Stranger have consult’d Col. Armstrong who think’s with me that Winchester will be the properest place for a Rendevous & exept I meet with other intelligence on my March must make that my first object, hope soon to have the pleasure of kissing your hands who am Sir Your most obedt humble Servt
John Stanwix
Postscript –
I have a letter from Capt. Croghan who tell me he stay only two or three days at Winchester as his getting my letter would be uncertain please if you think propr to acquaint him with what I propose, & am a good deal hurryd or would have wrote to him dare say he will do that upon consulting with you, which may make the Indians of service, both you and he know infinately better then I can possibly know of Indian affairs.3
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P.S: I have just recd intelligence from Fort Allen in Pensilvania that an Indian lately come from Alleghany
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Says that the French Indians has actually cut a Road within ten miles of Fort Augusta,
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it appears they design to amuse us in Sundry places,
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And as I am leaving a Large County Open into which is a great Road cut from the Alleghany Hills, I must depend on your Intelligence being expeditiously sent that I may take my measures accordingly.
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ALS, DLC:GW.
1. John Armstrong (1717–1795) was a lieutenant colonel in the Pennsylvania forces; Alexander Beall was commander of the Maryland forces at Fort Frederick, Conococheague.
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2. Word that it was all a false alarm reached Colonel Stanwix before he began his march to Winchester. See Stanwix to GW, 22 June 1757 (first letter).
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3. The Pennsylvania Indian agent George Croghan (d. 1782) arrived in Winchester with Col. John Armstrong and other Pennsylvanians on 13 June to confer with Edmond Atkin about their past and future dealings with the Cherokee parties headed by Wawhatchee and Youghtanno (see GW to Dinwiddie, 10 June 1757, n.1). David Ross and others came over from Maryland for the same purpose. All of them except Croghan and William Trent left on or before 16 June when word from Dagworthy of the supposed invasion made it possible for Croghan to persuade Atkin to allow him and Richard Smith to take a party of forty-seven (by Atkin’s count) Cherokee to Pennsylvania, and Croghan arrived at Fort Loudoun in Pennsylvania on 27 June with fifty-five Cherokee, drawn probably from those who had gone out with Smith and Andrew Lewis at the end of April. The Cherokee remained to serve as scouts for Colonel Stanwix until mid-July.
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Stanwix may have known little of Indian affairs but his letter of 12 June 1757 to Gov. William Denny suggests that he understood Indian agents well enough: “I find all those employed as Agents very jealous of one another, and I can perceive Mr. Croghan so of Colonel Armstrong, and by the enclosed [Atkin to Croghan, 8 June 1757] you will find Mr. Atkins so of them all, as well as of the Provinces” (Pa. Archives, Col. Rec., 7:598–99).
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Source:
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FALSE ALARM
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To George Washington from John Stanwix,
22 June 1757
From John Stanwix
Camp near Carlisle [Pa.] 22d June 1757
Dr Sir
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had I Not had a letter last night from Capt. Dagworthy Fort Cumberlands being safe and the Intelligence of Artillery, Waggons &c. &c. &c. being a Mistake,1
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should have march’d this morning every thing being ready, but was stopd some days for want of Carriages
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But the threat to Fort Augusta still exists.
French and Indians are blazing a road to attack it.
And Conrad Weiser of Berks County PA area is arming up for it.
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Source:
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The Biggest Offensive Harassment
of Fort DuQuesne
between Braddock and Forbes
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Christopher Gist, Edmond Atkin’s deputy agent for Indian affairs at Winchester, wrote to St. Clair from Winchester on 12 April:
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“At the desire of Colo. Washington I make free to inform your Honour how the Indian affair stands at this time, we have now in this Town 174 Indians I have aquipt (but not according to the Colony’s agreement)
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343 which how ever is gone to war on the Frotiers of this Colony & Maryland,
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Some of the Parties I Make no doubt will see Fort Du Quesne,
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my son Lieut. Gist of the Virginia Regiment, with 30 Indians & 3⟨2⟩ men is gone from the South Branch a bout 10 days, & I bleive will See the French Fort.
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I desired them if Possible to get a Prisoner.
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“Ther is now 110 Cherokees, on the road between this Town and Augusta,
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52 of which, is this night with in five miles of this place. [Winchester VA]
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“I have a Letter from John Watts, who is one of my Interpreters, that he with a Large Party will be at this place in this month….
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“P.S. I have just recd advice that Mr Henry Russell & my Son Thos Gist of the Regiment with Party 48 Cherokees they Marcht with, (Some time before Lieut. Gist & his Party went out) is return’d to South Branch Last week & is Setting out agin now.
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“The government of Maryland Who have had a Party of 50 or 60 Cherokees at their Request Sence the 22d of Novr Last …” (Scottish Record Office: Dalhousie Muniments).
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Capt. Abraham Bosomworth of the 2d Battalion, Royal American Regiment, submitted to General Forbes
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“A Return of the Southern Indians Winchester April 21st 1758” (ViU: Forbes Papers), from a return made by Christopher Gist.
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The return indicates that 652 Indians had come to Virginia,
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58 on 16 Nov. 1757
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and the rest between 28 Feb. and 21 April 1758.
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One party of 26 on 18 Mar.
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and another of 24 on 20 Mar. arrived “at Augusta,”
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while the other twenty-one parties arrived “at Winchester” (ibid.).
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One hundred and sixty-five warriors in six parties had gone from Winchester to Fort Frederick, Md.;
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174 in four parties had gone from Winchester to the South Branch;
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one party of 26 had gone down from Augusta to the James River
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and one party of 24 to the South Branch;
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and one party of 25 had left Winchester for Fort Loudoun in Pennsylvania.
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A total of 23 parties ranging in size from 7 to 75 with a median size of 41 made up the total of 652 who had come.
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Twenty of the parties came from one or another Cherokee town,
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two parties were Catawba
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and one party contained Indians of both tribes.
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The return names the commander of each party.
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By 21 April eleven parties totaling 364 warriors had left Winchester;
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238 men in ten parties remained in town.
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