Washington comments on Montgomery's Expedition
Retired Colonel George Washington, currently representing Frederick County VA in the House of Burgesses is still keeping up to date with the news on Montgomery's Expedition to punish the Cherokees.
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April 10, 1760
Letter from GW to Richard Washington 10 April 1760:
"...but what may be Montgomery’s Fate in the Cherokee Country I wont so readily determine—It seems he has made a prosperous beginning having penetrated into the Heart of their Country, and is now advancing his Troops in high health and Spirits to the relief of Fort Loudoun—But let him be wary—he has a crafty Subtil Enemy to deal with that may give him most trouble when he least expects it." Source: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-06-02-0260
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This is very reminiscent of Washington's misgivings about Major Andrew Lewis' Sandy Creek Expedition to attack Shawnee towns in Feb 1756.
Washington viewed all the Indians as tricky, ungrateful, extremely brave, capable warriors.
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Compiled by Jim Moyer 4/29/2024
Partial Timetable on Montgomery's and Byrd's Expeditions
February 24, 1760
Amherst appoints Montgomery
". . . Amherst, commander in chief of the British forces in North America, assigned Archibald Montgomery of 77th Regiment 12 companies of higlanders, totalling 1312 officers and men, to the expedition against the Cherokees."
Page 207 Corkran book
The Cherokee Frontier, Conflict and Survival 1740-1762, by David H Corkran, published by the University of Oklahoma Press 1962).
February 27, 1760
Cherokee attack Fort Dobbs
March 4, 1760
Lt Gov Fauquier announces to House of Burgesses that Jeffrey Amherst is now Governor and Commander in Chief of Virginia.
March 16, 24, 1760
Montgomery's troops ship out to sea From New York and Perth Amboy.
Page 207 Corkran book
March 26, 1760
Cherokee attack Virginia.
The Governor communicated a Letter he received last Week from Col. Maury dated Halifax County March 28th signifying that on the 26th of the said Month he was advised by an Express from Capt . William Satterwhite , living on Smith River , that the Indians had fallen upon the People settled at and near the Confluence of the Dan and Mayo , and taken and killed many Persons ; informing what he had done and intended to do thereupon , till he received his Honor's Instructions . House of Burgesses Journal.
April 5, 6, 1760
Montgomery's troops land on Cooper River above Charlestown (Charleston SC).
Page 208 Corkran book
April 10, 1760
Letter from GW to Richard Washington 10 April 1760:
"...but what may be Montgomery’s Fate in the Cherokee Country I wont so readily determine—It seems he has made a prosperous beginning having penetrated into the Heart of their Country, and is now advancing his Troops in high health and Spirits to the relief of Fort Loudoun—But let him be wary—he has a crafty Subtil Enemy to deal with that may give him most trouble when he least expects it." Source: https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/02-06-02-0260
Also a letter by Alexander to John Ellis 12 April 1760 about Montgomery's expedition.
Page 122 Tortura book
Carolina in Crisis: Cherokees, Colonists, and Slaves in the American .Southeast 1756-1763 By Daniel J. Tortora, published by the University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 2015.
April 23, 1760
Montgomery's troops start upcountry after delays procurring wagons, supplies, horses.
Page 208 Corkran book
May 2, 1760
Montgomery's troops reach Monck's Corner SC
Page 208 Corkran book
May 9, 1760
[Ensign] Milne [succeeded the killed Lt Coytmore as commander of Fort Prince George] tricked some Cherokee peace makers, taking them hostage. Montgomery thought Milne was wrong in creating further Cherokee distrust, but Montgomery benefited from this. The Cherokees, fearing a new round of hostage killing, held off the Cherokees from planning a successfull ambush of Montgomery's troops
Page 210 Corkran book
May 24, 1760
Montgomery's troops reach Fort Ninety-Six, so named because the surveyor thought the Cherokee town of Keowee was 96 miles away.
Page 208 Corkran book
May 24, 1760
In defense of Byrd's slowness
Upon being ordered to march to the relief of the besieged Fort Loudon Garrison, Byrd wrote Brigadier General Monkton on May 24th, 1760 that "...You will judge of the impossibility of the attempt when I tell you that this fort [Loudon] is six hundred miles beyond our outermost inhabitants & not a post in the whole way; no men are yet levy'd for that purpose, neither are any provisions or carriages engaged. These men [of the Fort Loudon garrison] must unavoidably fall into the hands of the savages who will shew them no mercy." (Correspondence of the Three William Byrds of Westover Virginia 1684-1776 Volume 2). Despite his protests and attempt to resign from the expedition, Byrd did his best to muster a relief party. The experienced Byrd recommended a plan to advance in stages along the lines of the "Protected Advance" utilized by Forbes in the campaign prior. - meaning Forbes built camps and forts around every 25 miles before advancing.
Byrd's ill equipped forces slowly moved southward, many of them without regimental clothing and unarmed. By the time his under-strength regiment was fully armed in late August (with the assistance of Colonel Chiswell), the Garrison at Fort Loudon had already surrendered to the Cherokee and many of the men had been massacred. Byrd continued his route towards the Big Island (Kingsport Tennessee), and advanced parties encountered survivors of the garrison and a party of Cherokees under Attakullakulla (Little Carpenter) who had ransomed Captain Stewart and removed him to the safety of the Virginian's lines.
May 28, 1760
Montgomery's force grows
Troops aim towards Fort Prince George next to the Cherokee Keowee town.
". . . accompanied by 295 rangers, 40 picked men of the provincials, about 12 guides, and 40 or 50 Catawbas, the highlanders set out for Fort Prince George. The force now numbered 1,650 exclusive of Indians and pack horse men."
Page 208 Corkran book
May 29, 1760
Colonel William Byrd III offers to be excused from commanding an expedition to deal with the Cherokee rebellion. That letter is read by the Virginia Executive Council 11 June 1760. They reject his offer to be excused. Byrd offers resignation from total command 2 Dec 1760, but he is ordered to continue on to Stalnaker's. He finally really resigns in August 1761. Adam Stephen takes command in Sept 1761.
Pages 56-57, in Norman Baker's book, Fort Loudoun, Washington's Fort in Virginia published in 2000.
GW Comment on Andrew Lewis' Sandy Creek Expedition
January 13, 1756
Col George Washington Not Confident
of this Sandy Creek Expedition
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Colonel George Washington is not confident of success for this mission:
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Majr Lewis being at Winchester when your Letter came to hand was immediately dispatchd to Augusta to take upon him the command of the Troops destin’d against the Shawnesse Town with orders to follow such directions as he shoud receive from you.1 this scheme thô I am apprehensive will prove abortive as we are told that those Indians are removd up the River—into the Neighbourhood of Du-quisne.
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