Numbers Killed on the Side of the Provincial Force.21 in Assessing the Extent to Which the Expedition Can Be Regarded a Success

numbers killed on the side of the provincial force.21

In assessing the extent to which the expedition can be regarded a success, it will be seen immediately that it formed no part of the strategic operations of the French and Indian War. These opera~ions were designed to destroy French power and influence in North America by depriving them of the advantages of the ar~ terial waterways. The subjugation of the French was the key to ultimate peace in the North American colonies. Thus, in 1763, following the close of the French and Indian War, when it became apparent to Pontiac, the Indian who so spectacularly defied the might of Britain that year, that the French could no longer be turned to for material assistance and encouragement against the British, his plans to attack Fort Detroit had to be abandoned and his war, popularly known as Pontiac’s Conspiracy, soon came to an end. It was to destroy the power of France that the ill-fated operations the year before had been launched by Braddock, Johnson, and Shirley. It was for this reason that Boscawen and Amherst captured Louisbourg, and Forbes captured Duquesne in 1758, and it was in pursuit of the same design that Wolfe fell on the Heights of Abraham in his moment of victory, just one day over three years after the main body of the Western Battalion arrived back at Fort Lyttleton. The expedition was prompted by the local needs of the citizens of western Pennsylvania in 1756. It was intended as part of the answer to the problems of the Province in securing its western line against attacks generated by the over-all troubles, and it is in the light of these localized aims that its success must be measured. If it is accepted that the yardstick of victory is the realization of the aims of the attack, it cam be demonstrat- ed that the expedition was a success. As has been shown, the purpose of the expedition was to put new heart in the settlers, and to strike a blow to the confidence of the Indians. Of the battle itself, Colonel Armstrong was of the view that it was as successful as could be expected in the circum- stances. He observed that: "Upon the whole had our Pilots understood the true Situation of the Town and the Paths leading to it so as to have posted Us as a convenient Place where the Disposition of the Men and the Duty assign’d to them cou’d have been perform’d with greater Advantage We had, by Divine Assistance, destroy’d a much greater Number of the Enemy, recover’d more Prisoners and sustain’d less Damage than what we at present have But the Advantage gain’d over these our Common Enemies is far from being Satisfactory to us yet must we not des- pise the smallest Degree of Success that God is pleas’d to give especially at a Time of such general Calamity when the Attempts of our Enemies have been so prevalent & successful. I am sure there has been the greatest Inclination to do more had it been in our Power as the Officers and most of the Soldiers, throughout the whole Action, exerted themselves with much Activity and Resol- ution as cou’d possibly be expected’’22

It is true that it was hoped ~hat all the prisoners of the Indians could be released (John Baker reported upwards of one hundred) and that only seven were actually brought out of captivity by the main body of the retreating battalion, and it is true that in terms of casualties and lost provisions the expedition was expensive, yet it was looked upon as a great success by the people of the Province, and in this it achieved its first purpose.23 It is

13 less easy to determine whether the second aim was realized. The attack did not bring an immediate end to Indian depredations in western Pennsylvania, yet it did have some effect on the Delawares. They are known to have withdrawn from their village on the Alle- ghany to less exposed villages, for example, at Saukunk, Kuskusky, and Shenango, on the Big Beaver River.24 The October 28th edition of the Pennsylvania Gazette that year carried an account from a British deserter from Fort Cumberland, who had been captured by the British that month, that shortly after the attack on their village, the Indians of Kittanning visited Fort Duquesne and in- formed the French:

"That their Brethren the English had never struck them before in their Towns, and that it was at the instiga- tion of the French they had struck the English, and had now lost all the Goods they had received for Scalps, besides the Loss of their People; they therefore desired the French to let them know where they must settle. To this the French answered, that there was a fine Piece of Land, about four Miles on this Side of Fort Du Quesne, which would be a very commodious Situation for them; but the Indians told them, they would no longer continue in any Place between them and the English, but would remove to the other side of Fort Du Quesne, as a Place of greater Safety ...,,25 In summary it can be said the expedition was designed in part to bolster the flagging spirits of the colonists of the Province and in this it was successful. It was al~o designed to strike a blow to the confidence of the Indians and in this it Was apparently successful. It cannot be said that it had the effect of stopping all further Indian attacks on the borders of the Province, and it may not have been a complete success insofar as inflicting immediate retribution on the Indians was concerned, especially if the casualties of the enemy were no more than those of the Western Battalion. However, on balance, and taking the two aims into consideration together with the consequences insofar as they can be calculated, it can be said the measure was successful. Of the second necessity facing the colonists, that of improving the defensive line in western Pennsylvania, Forts George and Shir- ley were not reoccupied, and Fort Granville was not rebuilt. In their place the battalion returned to garrison Fort Lyttleton, Fort Morris, McDowell’s Mill, and the fort at Carlisle.26 THE KITTANNING MEDAL On 5 October 1756 the Common Council of the City of Philadelphia set aside the sum of £150 to pay for presents for the officers of the Western Battalion, and to relieve the suffering of the widows and children of those men who lost their lives in the battalion. The papers of the Corporation of Philadelphia record: "At a Common Council held at Philadelphia for the City of Philadelphia the 5th Day of October 1756 Present William Plumstead Esqr.Mayor Thomas Cadwalador Benjamin Chew Esqr. Recorder Septimus Robeson William Allen Esqr. Samuel Morriss Robert Strettell Esqr. Edwd.Shippen Jnr.

14 Joseph Turner Esqr. Alexander Huston Benja. Shoemaker Esqr. Joseph Sims John Stamper Esqr. Jacob Duke Attwood Shute Esqr. William Bingham Thomas Lawrence ~sqr. Phineas Bond Edward Shippen Esqr. William Shippen Thomas Welling Samuel Shoemaker William Humphreys George Mifflin Amos Strettell John Wallace Thomas Bond William Coleman

The Board in pursuance of their Charter proceeded to the Choice of a Mayor for the year ensuing, and Alderman Shute was elected by a majority of the votes. Upon a resolve of the Board to choose two new Aldermen Alexander Stedman and Samuel Mifflin were elected Alder- man of this City by a majority of the votes.

It being proposed that this Board should give some pub- lick Testimony of their Regard and Esteem for Colonel John Armstrong and the other officers concerned in the late Expedition against the Indians at Kittanning, and the Courage and Conduct shewn by them on that Occasion; and also contribute to the Relief of the Widows and Children of those who lost thier lives in that Expedi- tion. Resolved, That this Board will give the sum of One Hun- dred and fifty Pounds out of their Stock in the Treas- urer’s Hands, to be laid out in Pieces of Plate, Swords, or other things suitable for Presents to the said officers, and towards the Relief of the said Widows and Children; And that the present Mayor, the Mayor Elect, the Recorder, Alderman Shippen, Colonel Duke, and Tho- mas Welling be a Committee to determine the Species and Value of the said Presents, and appropriate the same respectively; And, with the Remainder of the Money, to relieve the said Widows and Orphans as far as it will extend. The Mayor is also desired to write a Letter to Colonel Armstrong, to be sent with the said Presents. The Members of the Board then attended the Mayor Elect to his House, where he took and Subscribed the Quali- fications required by law, and also the Oath for the faithful Discharge of the Office of Mayor of this City, before Richard Peters Esquire by Virtue of a Dedimus potestatem, to him directed by the Honourable, the Governor, for that purpose’’27

As the premises show, the Commission decided upon the presentation of medals to the officers of the Western Battalion, and on Jan- uary S, 1757, Mayor Attwood Shute wrote to Lieutenant Colonel Armstrong enclosing a present of plate and a silver medal for him and medals for his officers. The letter was in the following terms: