STORES ETC., TAKEN UPON LIEUT.-GOV. HAMILTON'S EXPEDITION PROPORTION OF STORES TAKEN FROM DETROIT UPON AN EXPEDITION TO THE Brass, 6 pr..... ILLINOIS. Grape shott... 30 Leather cartoneliers.. Loose round shott. 513 Spunages. 2 Spikes of steel.. 6 Files for do Ladles. 22022300460116 HENRY DU VERNET, 2 lt. of Artillery. Endorsed:-Proportion of stores taken from Detroit by Lt.-Gen'l Hamilton. [B 99, p 171.] NUMBER OF BATTEAUS AND PEROCPUS [PEROGUES] EMPLOYED ON GOVERN. THE NUMBER OF CARTS EMPLOYED, &C., ON THE CARRYING PLACE OF THE MIAMIS. Part of our provisions were sent over with Col. McLeod, the Rest got over in 6 Days from the 29th November to the 5th December. HENRY DU VERNET, Endorsed:-Number of Batteaus and Perogues employed on Gov'r Hamilton's Ex pedition. [B 99, p 172.] LETTERS OF CAPT. D. BREHM TO GEN. HALDIMAND DETROIT May 28th 1779. SIR-The waiting for a vessel has proved this time to be the speediest way of conveyance, I arrived the 25th instant in 34 hours from Fort Erie to the mouth of the River and late in the night with a Boat to the Fort. The promisses of Lt. Governor Hamilton to the Delawares and other Western Nations, that is to protect them in case attacked by the Rebells and to drive their enemy back by force if incroaching on their Territories, to support with victual and cloaths, the Indian familys, whom he desired to leave the Rebell Frontiers etc-the Indians now claim of Captain Larnould as successor the performance of the above mentioned promisses who has neither provisions nor men to keep or support said promisses, makes that the Indians are discontented and weavering what part to take, against an enemy entering into their country & all most surrounding them so far as that the Hurons of this Place, refuse to get any more in favour of Government alledging among their apprehensions of danger, the hopes of seeing their old Father the French returning again joined with the Virginians with whom the Rebells tell them, by frequent messages they are now allied. rance. The Rebells have five Forts, from Fort Pitt towards this place one at Beaver Creek about 27 miles from said Fort it is called Fort McIntosh 2nd at Kentuck about 30 miles above the Falls of the Ohio 3rd on the Island near the Falls 4th below the Falls and the 5th at Tuscawiawas, called Fort LauThe Wabash Indians expect cannon ammunition men and provisions to assist and support them in driving the Rebells from Vincenne and the The Chanees Delawares Mingoes and Sandusky Indians expect the same to dislodge the Rebells from the above mentioned five PostsCaptn Larnould thinks that 5 or 600 men with small cannon or Field pieces joined by the Indians would go a great length to satisfy them, providing there was provisions enough to support them & their familys till they were enabled again to plant their lands which many have left, besides 5 or 600 men for the defence of the Posts he says that the arrival of the 200 men he were reinforced by has made a great alteration in the Inhabitants & even among the Indians, the former before that became incolent and almost dar ing in their behaviour. The absolute nessasuity of an Indian Agent being sent up is pointed out to Your Excellency by Captn Larnoulds Letter to Colo Bolton sent by him to Your Excellency without which Captn Larnould thinks that all the Western Indians will be lost he having no body but French people to interpret or to convey his Ideas through to the Indians, and thus not to be depended upon, in particular since the taking of Lt. Gen. Hamilton. Mr. Baby has been assisted for the present and altho he behaved remarkable well during the Indian War, keeps such company, that he makes himself suspitious by it, and the Rebells having spread among all the Western or Wabash or Illinois Indians by some disaffected savages that French spain even germans & americans are all Joined together, to drive the English out of America, has not only effect among the Indians, but likewise among the French from the Illinois and Wabash through this whole settlement; an Indian chief is arrived here yesterday from the Mississippy and has spread such news among those called hier by Hurons, Turean Ottowas and Chipawas to parsuade them to Join to make peace with the Rebells, who have invited them to Fort Pitt for the purpose. Captn Lernould is not Idle in countreacting the designs. The Inclosed return will show your Excellency the Provisions now in this settlement and by calculations may be easily seen, that nothing more can be expected from them; the state of provisions in this garrison and the demands made for the northern Trade. The New Fort is really very much advanced except Lodging Stores etc which is now Building the plan of it has already been sent to your Excellency by Colel Bolton; the inclosed return of ordnance is wanted for the defence of the New Fort, the Iron guns now hier and not belonging to the Vessells are now of the best Capt Larnould, would be glad to have an Iron 18 pounder, for a long range, as the New Fort commands its ground, for a great distance, about it, by the return from Fort Wm Henry, there are some I believe, but without Balls, garrison, carriages etc. Niagara has but one, els I would have begged Colel Bolton to send on hier, if this Fort is finished without or before it is attacked it will be very tenable and deserves attention paid to the demand made for its defence; as the Rebells view may be to possess this Post in hopes to maintain a garrison in it from the supplys of this settlement. I wonder to find that Doctor Anthon, has not got as yet, his appointment as Surgeon to the General Hospital at this Place, as I remember your Excellency approved of appointment last summer, he has served as such before at this place, and has attended soldiers, sailors and the Indian department these many years past for a trifling allowance considering the great expenses at which he purchased his own medicines in hopes given him by different commanding officers of an appointment on the Establishment by which means he has been neglecting many of the Inhabitants from whom he must expect his chief livelyhood. Capn. Lernould requests your Excellency not only his appointment as made to the General Hospital at this place, but likewise as mate under him, to assist him in case of actual service a mate to attend the Vessels on the Lakes which are cruising about the Miamic River & Sandusky etc, either to hinder the Trade with the Rebells, from this settlement or in case crafts and forces should attempt to come that way. Captain Lernoulds constitution is naturally week and is at present laid up with the gout and not able to sturr about, but both he and Colel Boulton to me appear verry able officers to command these posts and verry lucky your Excellency happens to have them Commanders hier at these troublesome times. It seems that I will not be able, to leave these Posts as soon as your Excellency might expect, as it requires some time to get a tolerable knowledge of things so complicated as they appear to me at present to give Your Excellency the true state of them; besides Colel Bolton & Captn Lernould both seem desirous of me not quitting these Posts just now as affairs hier, as affairs are very critical of what may be expected from being attacked or what can or will be proposed by them to defend them of which I may then fully acquaint your Excellency with. I have the honor to be with great Respect and Esteem Sir Your Excellency's Most obliged and most obedt humble Servt. D. BREHM. Endorsed:-From Captain Brehm at Detroit of the 28th May Rec'd 9 June with several inclosures. 1779 [B 99, p. 71.] TO MAJ. DE PEYSTER DETROIT May 30th 1779. SIR-His Excellency the Commander in Chief has been pleased to send me to this place in order to get all the information of the situation wants etc. of your Post and what could be done towards its defence. I therefore begg the favour of you that you will be pleased to late me kno it, by the first and earliest opportunity, so that everything that can be got, on this communication may be sent up to you as soon as possible. It is the generals wish and desire in case you think it necessary so that you have not done it already, that you will get made, such a side or sides of your Fort proof (against any small canon that the enemy might bring against you) either of Fassines fulled with Earth or any other materials you can best and easiest obtain on the Spott. His Excellency further desires that you will please to communicate all the Enemys motives your want of materials succurs how the Indians are inclined or any other public affairs concerning, your or any other Posts to Detroit and Niagara as these Posts are desired to do to you, so that you may have assistance or give them, before His Excellencys the Commander in Chiefs orders for such aid or assistance, can possibly reach these Posts. I am Sir your most obedient & most humble Servant, To Major Depeyster D. BREHM, Commanding His majesty's Troops at Michilimackinac. Endorsed: -79 Captn Brehm du detroit du 3d Juin Rec'd le 21 d a Quebec. [B 99, p. 76] TO GEN. HALDIMAND DETROIT June the 3rd 1779. SIR-NO vessel can be sent to Michilimackinac with your Excellencys despatches for want of sailors but Captn. Lernoute has ordered a Batteau which was repaired for that purpose and only waited for want of hands to work her as it is to go for Traders, the said Battoe is to sett off to-morrow. Inclosed is an order sent to Major Depeister by your Excellencys Commands as it is necessary for the Post to know everything mentioned in it. stay heir till I receive an answer from the Major, by an intercepted Letter your Excellency will see that said Post is not in so much danger as I imagined or els I had gone their. Captn. Lernoute has sent and will be transmitted to your Excellency by Col. Bolton an Indian Speach of the 31st May by which those nations have still assured theyr alliance to Government. In case Posts should be proposed to be taken or expeditions formed to dislodge the Rebells from their Forts, in the Indian Country this way I propose to inquire into the following articles and if well informed, and as soon as possible will transmit the same to your Excellency 1st The proper plans to form Store Houses & Magazines. 2 What number of Indians may be got. 4 What kind of crafts would be proper and what number. 5 The number of Periogues now in the Settlement. |