The St. Lawrence County Historical Association OUARTERL Y VolumeXL VI - Number 3- Summer 2001 The St. Lawrence County Historical Association at the Silas Wright House

.<&\ The St. Lawrence County Historical Association is a private, not-formmember . 'p organization based at the Silas Wright House in Canton, . ~oun&&iaXf~~7,the ~ssociatiod'is~overned ..:.:...... , y by a constitution, by-laws, and Board of Trustees. The+,-.%ssociation9s membership meet,&nnually to elect its trustees. ..<:>... ..!+ .,.> .,.> ... 1 ..:> \% .;.!;.::.' ..:> g 2002 OfSicers: ,sYPii:...:' 2002 Trustees: % President: Carl Stickney, ~orylld3 Chris Angus, Canton 8 Vice-President: Jane ~ub$.~%ian,Potsdam Patricia Carson, Canton 1 Treasurer: Carol ~ohn@%,Canton Richard Foster, Rossie $ Secretary: Susie ~m$,Hammond R. Shawn Gray, Massena :[ E. Jane Layo, Waddington Stan , Pierrepont f4 Lowell McAllister, ~euvel&n ,j Trent TruIock, Executive Director Todd Moe, Norwood ,:: sue .mishore, Collections Manager Cathleen O'Horo, Canton ~&.gllen Jones, Archives Manager Susan Omohundro, Hamada Falls ~everl$~cgwnell,..:.. . Administrative Assistant Tim Strong, Potsdam 1 .... J. Rebecca Thompson, ~ar$awaFalls Peter Van de Water, Canto4 ??:.. .

":*.., ..:&<:., ..%.. ..%.. ..;. .::. ha<.. k, Our Mission The St. Lawrence County Historical dwiation is a not-for-profit membership organization and serves as an educational resource for the use and::.@nefit of the citizens of St. Lawrence County and ~.thersinterested in the County's history and traditions. The AssocIati.on collects and preserves archival material and &ifacts pertinent to the County's history. In cooperation and collabo~~nwith other local organizations, the Associagon promotes an understanding of and appreciation for the County's rich fi~~~..~~.~h.~.uhM~.ati~~.~.~bits,.mQ.~grams.The St. Lawrence County Historical Association operates within museum standards established by the American Association of Museums. SLCHA Membership Membership in the St. Lawrence County Historical Association is open toall interested parties. Annual membership dues are: Individual, $25; SeniorIStudent, $20; Family, $35; Contributor, $50; Supporter, $100, Patron, $250; Businesses, $50 to $1,000. Members receive the SLCHA Quarterly, the Historical Association's bi-monthly newsletter, and various discounts on publications, programs and events.

St. Lawrence County Historical Association at the Silas Wright House 3 East Main Street, PO Box 8 Canton, New York 13617 (315) 386-8133 fax (315) 386-8134 e-mail: [email protected] www.slcha.org w- Published continuously since 1956 The St. Lawrence County Historical Association 7,'~g~~,t~ly is endowed in memory of Albert Pries1 ~d Ella Waltennan Newell. Ouarterlv

&."I.. :"-1"- Publication GLA,&= vucrrrerry 15 arad made Volume XLVI - Number - 2001 P1ossible wit rids- from th ~eNew Y 'ork State ( the Arts, ;i State ISSN: 0558-1931 a1gency. CONTENTS !at. Ol ffn Arts Siege of Fort Levis From Eyewitness Accounts 2 Rl Researched and Written by David Dickinson Memoirs of the Late War in North America uimet Between Prance and England 7 By Capt. Pierre Pouchot usarr b. uresve Siege and Capture of Fort Levis 17 1Idvisory B1 oard: Chris Angus, Canton-. Memoirs of a French and Indian War Soldier: Arthllr Jonnson,*. rorsaam. :rb Judd, Canton ‘CJolicoeur"Charles Bonin 28 Ruth Judd, Canton Edited by Andrew Gallup

right 02,2(101 by the rence Counrty Historical Letter of Col. Nathan Whiting to His Wife from 'ion. AN rig :hts reserved. Fort La Galette (Fort de la Presentation) 30 E:xcept forblrief excerpas, no part of this Publication may be c:opied or repro- Siege of Fort Levis: Conclusion 33 duced withc)ut the express written per- . ".<, mlsslon. or tne autnor.. and the Historical Researched and Written by David Dickinson Association. The St. Lawrence County Historical Association is not ttsponsible Edith Duffy, Former Edwards Town and Village for the statements, interpretations, and pinions of rsto The S1 SCHA I Historian 35 ?uarterly. Edith Duffy Steps Down as Edwards Historian After .7.. :- -..%I The SLCHA guurrerry IS p~~~ished Winter, Spring, Summer, and Fall each Years of Dedicated Service 36 year by the St. Lawrence County His- By La Verne H. Freeman torical Association for its members and riends. Edith Duffy, Good Friend and Neighbor 37 P .opiesmay 1be obtainedl from --. By Laverne H. Freeman the St. Lawrence County Historical Association, P.O. Box 8, Canton, NY Issue Editor:Parnela Ouimet 13617 at $4.00 each ($2.00 for mem- Cover Photo: Commissioned by the Old Association to celebrate bers), plus $1 .OO for postage. the Fort's 275th anniversary, Robert Ducey 's painting portrays the French warship "L 'Iroquoise " sailing out of Fort Niagara in the summer of 1759. C ons: Built at the Pointe au Baril shipyard and launched in April 1759, 1 l Quarter4il welcomer s con- "L 'Iroquoise " ran aground in the St. Lawrence River shortly before the Siege r.. r.. . .. hourtons. I o submlt a manuscript, or of Fort Levis. Her guns and crew were removed to help defend Fort Levis for further information, please contact whiole the ship was scuttled ofthe downstream tip of today's Chimney Island. the editor through the St. Lawrence The vessel was re-floated by the British and sailed a few more years on the St. County Historical Association. Please address communicationsto: Managing Lawrence and under a British flag. her sister ship, Editor, TheSLCHA Quarterly,P.O. Box "L 'Outaouaise, " was captured by the British on August 17, 1760 infiont of 8, Canton, NY 13617. Fort de la Presentation. (Photo courtesy of the Old Fort Niagara Association) Whitehall 1lth Dec 1859 Siege of Fort Levis from Eyewitness Accounts "The King saw, with much concern, that unhappily the execution had not fol- Researched and written by David Dickinson lowed the plan which you had so prudently concerted, and the orders you had given, for the taking possession of La Galette, being a post of the utmost conse- quence, and by which, we should be entire masters of Lake Ontario and his Whitehall Dec. 29th 1758 Majesty's subjects on the Mohawk River as effectually freed thereby from all "...it is His Majesty's Pleasure that you do attempt an invasion of Canada by inroads and scalping parties of the Enemy ...by the reduction of that important Way of Crown Point or La Galette, or both, according as you shall judge practi- Post..."" cable, and proceed, if practicable, and attack Montreal and Quebec..."' (Secretary of State William Pitt to General JewAmherst)" (Secretary of State William Pitt to General Jefhy Arnherst)i

Detail of 17.57 French map of the upper St. Lawrence River by cartographer Bellin. (Photo courtesy of David Dickinson)

3 St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly 2 St. Lmvrence County Historical Association Quarterly Crown Point is a familiar loca- tian Majesty Louis XV's Fort Le- gara, Both ships would later figure tion to New Yorkers but many may vis, commanded by Captain Pierre prominently in the Siege of Fort not recognize the place-name, La Pouchot ofthe Regiment du Beam. Levis. Galette. As early as 1673, the ori- What Britain's King George had ginal La Galette was a stopping asked in late 1758 finally became Readers will be more ac- point above the Galop Rapids for reality in August, 1760. His inva- quainted with the history ofFort de French military and trading expedi- sion army occupied Fort de la Pre- la Presentation, located at the tions bound for the interior of the sentation and pushed on to take po- mouth of the Oswegatchie River. continent. In the English parlance sitions on islands now known as Founded by Abbe Francois Pic- of 1758, La Galette referred to Spencer, Drumrnond, Prisoner's quet in 1749, Fort de la Presenta- Abbe Francois Picquet's Fort de (Adams) and Galop. Connecticut tion served a unique purpose in la Presentation. As France built soldiers and Royal Artillery set up New France. It was a fort founded other fortifications nearby, La on Chimney Point. Inside the walls and initially admhsteredby a priest Galette served as a collective name of Fort Levis 350 or so soldiers, of the Sulpician order. Its utopian for Fort de la Presentation and its sailors and militia of New France purpose was to provide religious successor, Chimney Island's Fort braced for a massive attack. Their instruction to Native Peoples as Levis. fort at the head of the Galop Rap- well as to rescue them hmthe evil ids stood as the last stronghold for iduence of all things British. With In the middle of the St. France between Amherst's horde special permission of the King of Lawrence River, just downstream and Montreal, the only North Arne- France, Picquet was allowed to fiom the Ogdensburg-Prescott In- rican city remaining in French con- locate his mission in territory other- ternational Bridge, lies Chimney trol. The ensuing battle was to be wise forbidden to French settlers. Island, once pear shaped but in the the last between France and Great Picquet endeared himself to the 1950's eviscerated by construction Britain for the control of Canada governors of New France by, of the St. Lawrence Seaway. For and the North American continent. among other things, establishmg a a few weeks in the summer of 1760, much-needed sawmill on the banks it was the focal point of an invasion Despite its benchmark position of the Oswegatchie River. In or- army the likes of which the upper on Great Britain's and France's der to understand the importance St. Lawrence River had never be- timeline of history in the New of the sawmill, readers must reahze fore seen and will never see again. World, modem historians largely that everything needed in the con- Over ten thousand British soldiers, have neglected the Siege of Fort tinent's interior but manufactured in among them several regiments of Levis. Scholars also have failed to France or in the colony had to be British regulars, four regiments of measure the significance of the con- laboriously portaged, dragged, Connecticut Provincials, two regi- centration ofFrench military instal- poled or rowed through a series of ments of New York Provincials, lations on the Upper St. Lawrence rapids stretching from Montreal to one regiment of New Jersey Pro- River. The stretch of the St. Law- Galop Island. Fort de la Presen- vincials, the famous 4PdBlack rence River fi-omMaitland, Ontario tation's position above the last of Watch Regiment, two companies to the downstream end oflisbon's the St. Lawrence River rapids of Rogers' Rangers, Sir William Galop Island contains sites of three made it an ideal location for ship- Johnson and almost 1,000 Iroquois French fortifications and several building. Once built, vessels had warriors. . .all marched or rowed Native American villages all dating smooth sailing from there to the along the banks of the St. Lawrence to the period 1759-1760. The gates of Niagara and everywhere River to take up positions around French shipyard of Pointe au Baril, on Lake Ontario. The stone to Chimney Island. Like the caddis today's Weatherheads Point near build Fort Niagara came from the flies and white gnats that had pre- Maitland, was opened in late 1758 Kingston, Ontario area, possibly in ceded them in months before, Brit- and completed two vessels in ad- vessels built at Fort de la Presen- ish redcoats and their allies dition to the hull of a third. In April tation. It is possible that the lum- swarmed over the islands sur- 1759 the shipyard launched the ber used to improve Fort Niagara rounding Little Chimney Island. French warships 1'Iroquoise in the mid-1750's came from Fort Little Chunney Island, in 1760,was (Iroquois) and 1'Outaouaise (Ot- de la Presentation's sawmill. no innocent, deserted mound of a tawa). The ships immediately were French warships such as L 3-0- bird sanc- on the edge of a sea- pressed into service to carry Cap- quoise, when damaged in action on going shipping channel. It was Isle tain Pierre Pouchot and his troops Lake Ontario, retreated to Fort de Royale, the site of His Most Chris- to his new command at Fort Nia- la Presentation for repairs.

St. Lawrence County Historical Associntion Qunrterly 5 Sf. Lawrence County Historical Associarion Quarterly With the surrender of Fort France's defeat. In the spring and Niagara in 1759, Fort de la Pre- summer of 1760, all on the St. sentation assumed anew but short- Lawrence River around Fort Levis lived role, that of guardian of New and Fort de la Presentation was France's western door. Unfortu- turmoil in anticipation of a British nately for France, Fort de la Pre- attack. The expected attack ma- sentation was impossible to defend terialized in late August. This issue against cannon, which the British of the Quarterly will give readers would surely bring. The decision an opportunity to read details of the was made to build a new, more Siege of Fort Levis fiom the pens defendable fort on a little island k- of those who participated in it. ther downstream in the St. Lawrence River. That island is to- day known as Chimney Island. In Endnotes the summer of 1759 French engi- Gertrude Selwyn Kimball, editor. Cor- neer Jean-Nicolas Desandrouins respondence of William Pitt When Sec- drew up plans and began construc- retary of State With Colonial Gover- tion of Fort Levis. The decision to nors and Military and Naval Commis- abandon Fort de la Presentation sioners in America. New York: The forced Abbe Picquet to relocate his Macmillan Company. 1906. Volume I, mission to Galop Island. A new page 438. chapel was built there, as were dwellings for the Native Peoples Gertrude Selwyn Kimball, editor. Cor- who relocated to Galop Island fiom respondence of William Pitt When Sec- their village outside the walls ofFort reta ry of State With Colonial Gover- de la Presentation. Land on Galop nors and Military and Naval Commis- Island was cultivated and crops sioners in America. New York: The were sown, most notably corn, Macrnillan Company. 1906. Volume 11, beans, squash, cabbages, and sun- pp. 216-217. flowers. Livestock included hogs and poultry. Almost immediately Nathaniel Woodhull. "A Journal Kept French records begin to refer to the by Nathaniel Woodhull". The Histori- island as Picquet's Island. cal Magazine and Notes and Queries Concerning the Antiquities, History, Galop Island was also the site and Biography ofAmerica. Volume V, of several major diplomatic confer- September, 1861. p. 258. ences. The allegiance of Native Peoples was divided between those who favored France and those who were allied to Great Brit- ain. Wampum belts were sent to Galop Island bmArnherst and Sir William Johnson, advising the Oswegatchie Indians to remain neutral or take up arms against France. France's Native allies de- cided to remain largely neutral. Their decision generated another conference, this one with Captain Pouchot. He derided them fiercely for their forgetfulness of the treat- ment that they had received at the hands of the British and warned them of the consequences of

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly Memoirs of the Late War in North America Between France and England by Captain Pierre Pouchot, Regiment du Bearn Translated by Michael Cardy Edited and Annotated by Britain Leigh Dunnigan Published by Old Fort Niagara Association, Inc. Introduction-Written and re- Cardy, with superb editing and an- inside Fort Levis. This selection of searched by David Dickinson notation by Britain Leigh Dunnigan, Pouchot's memoirs begins with his In the years following the end the Old Fort Niagara Association, entry for July 25,1760. The pre- of the French and Indian Wars, in 1994, published a new edition ceding weeks and months at Fort known as the Seven Years War of Captain Pierre Pouchot's Mem- Levis witnessed incredible activity outside of the , sev- oirs on the Late War in North as Pouchot sought to strengthen his eral detailed histories of the war in American Between France and fortress and to gain intelligence North America were published in England. Those pages of about British invasion preparations England. The only detailed French Pouchot's memoirs detailing events at Oswego. Our selection opens language account of the war was immediately before and during the with the news that the French war- assembled fiom memoirs put to Siege of Fort Levis are presented ship L 'Iroquoise, captained by paper by Captain Pierre Pouchot, here with the kind permission of the Rene Hippolyte LaForce, has re- the French commander of Fort Old Fort Niagara Association. turned, probably to an anchorage Levis and before that of Fort Readers are cautioned that only a at Fort de la Presentation, from a Niagara. Pouchot began his mem- small portion of Pouchot's writings reconnaissance mission of oirs in 1768, some eight years af- pertinent to Fort de la Presentation, Amherst's army camp at Oswego. ter his surrender of Fort Levis and Pointe au Baril, Fort Levis, Galop (End of introduction.) subsequent repatriation to France. Island and the activities of France One year later, while soldiering in on the upper St. Lawrence River Corsica, Pouchot was killed by had been excerpted herein. Un- partisans. Perhaps because of fortunately, space constraints have Pouchot's critique of the French dictated that Brian Leigh Dunnigan's government's administration of excellent annotation in the Old Fort Canada, Pouchot's collected writ- Niagara edition be removed for the ings were not published until 1781 sake ofbrevity. Although currently and then in Switzerland rather than out of print, a new improved edi- France. That the memoirs were tion of Pouchot's Memoirs. .. will published at all may be due to be published by the Old Fort France's renewed interest in Niagara Association in the near fu- Britain's North American troubles ture. It will come as highly recom- and France's involvement in the mended reading for all who have American Revolution. In 1866, an interest in New York State's era Franklin B. Hough, author of the of the French and Indian Wars. locally well-known Histoly of St. Lawrence and Franklin Coun- Readers should note that, as ties, New York translated and pub- Captain Pouchot writes, he refers lished 200 copies of Pouchot's to himself as 'ke" or "M(onsieur) Modern re-enactors in light gray Memoirs... Such a limited edition, Pouchot" but never as "I," follow- coats with royal blue cuffs and now exceedingly rare, has greatly ing writing conventions of his era. facings, realistically portray two restricted modern profession and In the following selection, taken grenadiers of France 's "Compagnies lay historians' access to the wealth hmpages 294 to 3 19 of the 1994 Franches de la Marine." Soldiers of of information contained in Old Fort Niagara Association edi- "La Marine" constituted the larges Pouchot's works. In atremendous tion, Pouchot records his memo- contingent of Pouchot 's armedforce effort of translation by Michael ries as if writing fiom hsquarters within Fort Levis.

/ St. Lawrence Counry Historicnl Association Quarterly at Pointe au Baril (Maitland, Ontario] rtist 's rendition bv I. C. Lamontagne).

Artist J. C. Lamontagne S conception of the appearance of the fortified French shipyard Pointe au Baril located approximately 14 miles upstream from Fort Levis near modem day Maitland, Ontario. Construction of Pointe au Baril shipyard commenced in late 1758. The shipyard launched two fully rigged vessels, L 'Iroquoise and L 'Outaouaise, in April 1759. A third hull was built but never rigged. It was taken to Fort Levis and scuttled along with L 'Iroquoise, the latter severely damaged on the eve of the Siege of Fort Levis. "On the 2Sh, at ten in the among them had said that he had mated that each ship had a crew of evening, the longboat of LaForce seen in the Cataracouiivarea ten 100 men, half seamen and half mi- arrived. From the letters it brought, bateaux with English troops on litiamen. There were many offic- we learned that he had kept watch board. He had spoken to them. ers. The Missisake added that on the same camps at Oswego & when he was on the Isle des that, on the 22nd,he had encoun- At 7 in the evening, there ar- Cedresv he had seen ten bateaux tered at Isle aux Galotsi an English rived eight canoes of Iroquois In- laden with troops go by. vessel which had been joined by dians who out of fear had aban- another. Our corvette then gave doned their fishing at Toniata With On the 30", some more Indi- chase &, after losing sight of them, them was the Missisake who has ans arrived from Toniata and re- it had come to anchor at Toniataii. just been mentioned. He told M. ported that they had heard the En- Pouchot that, while fishing four ghsh passing in the night among the On the 27", seventy Indians, days before in the Bay of Thousand Islands a short distance women, children & old people, left Cataracoui, he had seen the two above the Ance au Corbeauvi. for Mont-RCal. Fear made them English vessels which were an- flee. On the 29", at daybreak, the chored near Petit Cataracoui. It On August la, La Force sent orator from La PrCsentation- had come into his mind to find out his longboat to inform us that his called the "Chevalier de la Gri- whether what was said was true, ship the Iroquoise had run aground mace" by the French because he namely that the Enghsh did no harm on a reef in the middle of the river had avery twisted mouth, but avery to Indians. As aresult, he had gone above Pointe au Barilvii. M. eloquent speaker for an Indian- on board the big ship, which had Pouchot immediately sent out some Came to tell M. Pouchot that one three decks, ten guns on each side, bateaux to help refloat it. On the of the Missisakesiiiwho lived a topmast & grapnels. He esti- 5&, the ships went and anchored at

8 St. Lawrence County Historical Associntion Quarterly La Pr6sentation & LaForce came dress caps. He had counted 60 dians to take it, to remain neutral, to the fort. His corvette was tak- cannon. According to his report, to allow the white men to fight since ingon 12 inches ofwater every hour four large-caliber guns had re- they would soon make peace, & and had 15 feet of the keel holed mained at the Fallsu, where they to get out of their way or to come at the bow. We worked at repair- were constructing a road to bring there unarmed. They assured our ing it as quickly as possible. them by land. He said that the por- Indians that they would be well re- taging of the mortars was not fin- ceived, that Johnson & they had One the evening of the gth, ished and that he thought it would come on ahead of the army to see KouategetS"" arrived from Os- take about another ten days before the white men fight. Johnson, they wego after a journey of three days. they could march. He added that said, had never invited them to do He was accompanied by an Oneida he had come upon the ships in the anythmg other thanwatch in 1755, & a Mohawk, representatives of river & that they were working at 1758 & 1759, as they could see the Five Nations, who had come fortifjlng Oswego. from the battle involving M. to urge our Indians to remain neu- Dieskauxivand from Niagara tral. Kouategete told M. Pouchot On the lo&,M. Pouchot went where, despite the Five Nations, the that General Amherst had been at to Isle Piquetxto attend the coun- French had fought without waiting Oswego for 15 days, that he had cil of representatives of the Five for good dealings. Another great seen him and spoken to him sev- Nations. They pmtedavery fine belt from these nations expressed eral times. He also said that their belt ofwampum, a gift hmColo- the same thing & invited them to army was 10 to 15 thousand men nel Johnsonxion which were de- speak the truth with them, that is to strong and comprised 8 regiments, signed the Englishman, the Five say, to adhere to their viewpoint. one ofred tunics with blue facings, Nations & the three villages of our one red &yellow, one of Scottish, Iroquois missions, Oswegatchie, the Next came strings ofwampum one of red with small black facings, lake'" and St. Louis"iii,with a man on behalf of General Amherst urg- Gage's regiment oflight infantry, one & a fine road leading from one to ing them to pay attention to what blue & red & several wearing un- the other, in order to invite our In- the belts said. By them, he prom-

1 -% - I The two vessels portrayed in this detail of Thomas Davies 'painting, "West View of Oswego and with General ~mherst Camp at Lake Ontario in the Year 1760 " are most probably the Mohawk and the Onondaga. Both warshipsfiguredprominently in the British attack on Fort Levis. This scene actually tookplace between June 18 and July 16, 1760,just weeks before Amherst S attack on Fort Levis. Davies was an ofticer in the British Royal Artillely.

9 St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly ised that in five or six days he would Frenchmen kept him a prisoner in has promised to satisfy your needs, be at Oswegatchie, that he was Fort George. In 1758, the same he will laugh at you. But when, in- going to fight with the French & that thing happened. You upbraided him stead, you had both the Frenchman only the master of life knew what because a small band of French- & the Englishman as neighbors, would happen. men had chased away the English they competed with one another to & you returned home hll of shame. give you things. Wampum belts will The response of our Indians Is it not I who showed you at be unnecessary to you to recall my was to urge the representatives to Niagara that you should not let go opinions when you remember with go to Mont-Rkal and reach the end ofyour father's hand if you wanted the old folk the advantage you have of the road they were following. to live in peace on your mats & no lost." They said that they themselves no longer wanted them to be covered longer had a fire lit since their fa- with blood? You listened to me then The representatives, although ther and the Iroquois of the Sautm & you withdrew and allowed us to fliends of the English, agreed that had agreed that the words coming fight. Did Johnson respect good M. Pouchot was speaking the truth. from the Five Nations would go deahgs when your chiefs and those They apologized because they no dmctly to Mont-Rbl without stop- who came hmthe Belle-RiviW longer had the wits of their ances- ping with them. wanted to work at restoring peace tors. The Indians from to the land? He laughed at you Oswegatchie heartily applauded the The representatives, after a because he was stronger. If the big speech of M. Pouchot, who gave good deal of reflection on this re- canoes"" of your father, the great a present to the visitors & dis- play, which they were not expect- On~ntid"~~',were not in poor con- missed them. ing, answered that these words had dition so that he must find time to been given them at Oswego by the construct others, rest assured that On the five Indians Five Nations and that they had only his children, the French, would brought M. Pouchot letters hmM. been sent here, without any orders cover the whole of hsland like the de Vaudreuilm.He announced that to go on to Mont-Rkal. Hence, trees. The Englishman would soon the English vessels were at the they intended to return home. be forced to go and hide in a cor- confluence of the three rivers"' at ner of the country which he stole St. Frkderic & that the enemy was M. Pouchot allowed their coun- fiom the Abenakisfk. The French- preparing to march. They ex- cil to come to an end and then said man had never sought any other pected Amherst to come from that to these Indians: "If you had gone course of action than to take pity direction. to Mont-Rkal, I would have noth- on his children & to supply their ing to say to you & I would have needs. He has not overturned your By the 15'h, the Iroquoise was allowed your father to speak. But mats and your fires with armies to repaired. I must at this point re- since you are going back home, I go and find the Englishman in his count an event worth of narration. wish to tell you what is in my heart. own country, for fear ofkilling you. Seventeen militiamen had deserted I shall not give you any advice and You were never willing to prevent some days prior to this, one of in any case you would not listen to the Englishman from passing whom returned to the Isle aux it. As a message from the man through your territory. And now Cedres, which was his home. His whom you have called "the center you are surrounded by their forts father, whose name was Bray, a fine of good dealings," please assure whch they requested your permis- old man, brought him back to do your brothers, the Iroquois, that they sion to build in order to hunt bea- his duty. He arrived on the 15h have lost their minds, that with a ver. Where will you now go in or- and left immediately. Unfortunately, little brandy, Johnson persuades der to satisfy your needs? Look at the young man was killed. them to follow him wherever he the state of the Abenakis in their wishes, without their having any own country. They go to the water On the 16&,at seven in the regard for the precipice to which & into the woods in order to find evening, two Indians who had ar- he is leading them. He gets all those something to eat & can no longer rived from a hunting expedition, warriors who have not consulted sow their Indian corn. They are announced that the English army their chiefs to join him. You your- the Englishmen's dogs; they are was camped at Pointe au Baribii selves told me this in 1755. At that beaten with sticks and hanged. The & its advanced guard was at La time he wanted to go to Mont-Rkal same thing will happen to you when Prkentation. It had marched along to thrash the Frenchmen & give you the Frenchman leaves you. When the shore past the Outaouaise. La his trade goods. A handful of you remind the Englishman that he BroqueriFiii did not write, how-

St. Lmvrence County Historicnl Association Qunrterly Pla of Fort dr ?I hy F.C. C (r da).

Fort de la Presentation, located at the juncture of the Oswegatchhie River and the St. Lawrence River, located at present day Ogdensburg, NY, is represented in this French engineering drawing dating to 1752. The original was redrawn by F. C. Cuny of the Public Archives of Canada to improve clarity. Note the encircled emblems denoting oficial acceptance of the plans by the French Royal Nav under whose jurisdiction North American colonial forts were placed.

I1 St. Lawrence Counw Historical Association Quarterly ever, although he fired 3 shots with which at first made them drop intended to mount a major attack his guns. M. Pouchot sent two astern on the north shore. But a in order to land on the island. As a Frenchmen & two Indians to ca- shore battery forced it to put out result, he had positioned 9 guns to noe out to the ship to find out what into the center again. After a can- bombard the top of the river & had the situation was. The captain sent nonade lasting three hours, the ship sited others in the epaulement him a message to say that the ad- was captured. M. Pouchot sent out which could make the balls rico- vanced guard ofthe enemy & their a detachment of four longboats chet eleven times over the water. Indians had landed in great num- armed with pierriersm under the It is certain that the enemy would bers at La Prksentation, that he had command of LaForce, the captain have lost many men before effect- them under observation & that the of the Iroquoise. But before they ing a bridgehead had they at- bulk of the army had camped at could reach the action, the ship had tempted to do so. They decided Pointe au Baril. surrendered. M. Pouchot had to slip along the northern shores hoped that the Outaouaise might at with a wide interval between each On the 17h, at 3 in the mom- least reach the protection of the fort, bateaux in order to avoid the fort's ing, M. Pouchot despatched a cou- which it would have done had it artillery. Their flotilla was led by rier to M. de Vaudreuil to inform been able to position itself ahead the Williarnsort"', which they had him of this event. Around seven of the currents. captured fi-om us, at half acannon's o'clock, in very calm weather, Gen- range as protection. eral Amherst launched an attack on On the 1 the enemy set out the Outaouaise with six barges from La Prksentation in a brisk M. Pouchot could only harass called CarcassierePiV,each carry- wind. At the place where the cur- their passage with 4 guns that could ing thuty men & a 12-poundergun. rents began, their entire army get them in their sights. We fired The ship was located in a position struggled in their bateaux for four 150 shots at them without, as far where the currents were not obvi- hours. It was a splendid sight. M. as we could see, doing much dam- ous. They surrounded the ship, Pouchot at first imagined that they age because the brisk wind & the

Detail of Plan of attack map portraying the western end of Galop Island Note a chapel and houses of Abbe Francois Picquet's new mission relocated to Galop Island from Fort de la Presentation. Native warriors allied to Sir William Johnson burned the structures during the Siege of Fort Levis. The island mission previously had been abandoned by the French and their allies.Plan of attack

12 St. Lnwrence County Historical Associntion Quarterly current made them sail very swiftly harass the men digging. We were could be cleared away by simply past the lines of sight. Since M. forced to economize very much on pushing them forward. Pouchot knewmiimany of the of- powder since we only had five ficers in the English army, several thousand-weight when the enemy As soon as the ships were in of them wished him good day as army arrived. position, they began a very heavy they passed by, while others & sustained fire with 25 guns. Al- shouted out to him to let them On the 21"' everything ap- most at the same time, the enemy through, as they were his friends. peared quite calm as the enemy opened fire fium the Chimney Point They saw him on the ramparts, but were working hard at mounting battery with two 24-pounder & did not stop to greet him properly. their batteries. The ships even four 12-pounder guns, from the The greater part of the army was withdrew out of cannon range. We battery on the Isle a la Cuisse with camped at Pointe a l'IvrognPiii. fired on the men digging but with- fourteen 12-pounder & 18- They also dispersed troops on Isle out much success because they pounder guns, & from a third bat- a la Cuissenix, Isle de la were already under cover & the tery on the Isle h laMagdelaine with Magdelaine" & Isle des Galots. terrain was higher than that of the two 24- pounder & six 12- island by more than 24 feet. pounder guns. At the first volleys, On the 19fh, their regiment of M. Bertrand, the artillery officer, artillery left the Vieille Galette"' As of noon, we could already was killed instantaneously by a can- with all the land artillery & sailed make out embrasures. When nonball which struck him in the past the others to go and camp at evening arrived, their ships under- back while he was showing M. Point6 a L'Ivrogne. The ship main- took a substantial maneuver & we Pouchot the caliber of the balls. tained as heavy a covering fire as counted up to 36 barges each car- A quarter of an hour later, they possible. We fired very little at the rying at least twenty men, who went began to fire bombs f7om the Isle a bateaux because we expected little on board the three ships. We la Magdelaine, where there were success from that. We concen- judged from this that the attack two 12-inch bomb mortars, six trated our fire instead on the ship. would begin the next morning. As royal grenade mortarsmiv & two Of 50 cannon shots that we fired a result, we worked at construct- howitzers. On the Isle a la Cuisse, at it, at least 48 crossed the body ing epaulements with timbers, in there were six royal grenade mor- of the ship, which made them with- order to provide cover to those tars and at Chimney Point two 12- draw a little. Its captain, whose areas that we considered would be inch mortars, two royal grenade name was Smulmii,behaved with exposed to the enemy batteries. All mortars & two howitzers. Alto- the utmost gallantry, pacing con- the guns were loaded with ball and gether there were 75 guns firing at stantly up and down his deck in his grapeshot and every man was or- US. shirt. Many of his crew were put dered to spend the night at his post. out of action. M. Pouchot received a very On the 22nd,at five in the morn- bad cut from a piece of wood 10 The two other ships, one of 22 ing, the three ships approached to feet long & 14 inches square which guns, 8 & 6-pounders, called the withifi 200 toises"""' of the fort, & was flung in the air by the explo- Onondaga, the other of 18 guns, covered the entire space at the top sion of a 12-inch bomb and hit him 6-pounders, called the Mohawk of the river between the Isle a la in the back. The injury did not pre- arrived in the evening and stationed Cuisse & Chimney Point. We vent hun fiom doing his duty. themselves beside the first one. judged from this that we were go- ing to be vigorously bombarded by All these batteries fired with the On the 20~,there was a great the ships & the shore batteries. utmost vigor and without intermp- deal of movement in the enemy Between them, they formed a semi- tion until noon, whch sent debris army. Many bateaux passed to & circle around the fort. As a result, & splinters flying around the fort. fro from their encampment to La M. Pouchot ordered the artillery Each man remained under cover at PrQentation. They also set up a officer to move the guns ofthe bat- his post; only the sentries kept the camp for two regiments at Chim- teries back so that they were in the movements of the enemy under ney Point and the troops began to cover of the merlons, thus prevent- observation. Judging fiom our si- dig trenches in that sector as well ing them from being dismounted. lence that we were perhaps in dis- as on the Isle 'a la Cuisse and the He also had the embrasures hid- array, they brought their ships up Isle de la Magdelaifie. We fired den with the ends of large pieces to within the distance of a pistol several artillery volleys at them to of wood cut for the purpose. They shot of the fort. They were filled

St. Lawrence County Historical Associntion Quarterly with troops, even the crow's nests, made it lean over in the direction of would make us surrender with the 7 supported by the fire of all the the fort. M. Pouchot ordered the ships alone. When the Indians saw shore batteries. firing to cease in order to save pow- them drifting broadside-on before der. The second captain- & the running aground, their shrieks in- Fortunately, they could only sailors came to offer surrender. M. creased in volume & they shouted take up station one after the other Pouchot kept them as hostages as obscenities at the English. They around the fort, so that the first ship he could not let them enter the fort said: "You did not want to kill our that arrived had in its sights the gate since they would have been more father at Niagaram"; see that you of the fort, which was also raked numerous than the garrison. capture him now. If you had lis- by the battery on the Isle de la tened to us, we would not find him Magdelaine. M. Pouchot had had In between these actions, the here. A handful of Frenchmen are it concealed in advance by large enemy sought to emerge from the showing you up." However, this pieces of blindages with just an point of Isle la Cuisse and mount action reduced to rubble all the top opening at the side to let a man an attack. Two guns which were parts of the parapets of half the fort through. aimed in that direction kept them in and blasted away all the fascines check &made them withdraw be- or shattered all those facing Isle ri He judged that the enemy's plan hind the point. It is safe to say that la Cuisse & the ones defending the was to mount a full-scale assault the state in which they saw their front of the two half bastions. and indeed 3,000 volunteer grena- ships removed all their desire to diers & light infantry were already advance. The action lasted from That night, M. Pouchot endeav- on board bateaux stationed behind five in the morning until half past ored to repair with earth sacks the the point of Isle A la Cuisse. Their seven in the evening without any batters of the bastion facing the is- mission was to emerge under cover interruption in firing. We had 40 lands in order to make them ser- of the fire fiom the three ships & men killed or wounded. It would viceable. This bastion was on the the shore batteries. be impossible to praise too highly point of collapsing. A man could the fortitude shown by officers, have climbed up the ramp formed The maneuver of the ships im- colonial troops & militiamen and by the earth that had caved in. mediately induced M. Pouchot to above all by our artillerymen who send out 150 men & 4 officers to were all sailors. Three or four of The enemy continued their bom- deploy along the epaulement. He the latter were priceless because of bardment throughout the night & at had each ship bombarded one af- their skilled &nimble operation of intervals fired fiom their batteries ter the other with five guns, the only their guns. The enemy, like us, lired shots loaded with ball and ones within reach, using ball & ball & grapeshot. M. Pouchot had grapeshot in order to inhibit our grapeshot. He did not respond to had some old iron cut up by a repair work. We had 2 men killed the shore batteries. blacksmith. We filled caliber & a number wounded. bagsmviwith this and added it to Despite the superiority of the the ball, which had a most destruc- On the 23d, the enemy contin- enemy fire, with our five guns & tive effect on the ships subjected ued their bombardment & kept up musketry we forced the Williamson to our fire from the top of the ram- avigorous artillery fire all day. That and subsequently the Mohawk to parts. We filled their decks with night we suffered a similar bom- run aground half a league from the holes. bardment & occasional volleys fort, near the Isles de Galots. One from their cannon, as we had the of them was put out of action per- One thing that amused the gar- night before. manently. The Onondaga of 22 rison at such a serious time was that guns, which attempted to appmach the Indians had climbed up onto the On the 24fi, they opened up too close to the fort, also ran trenches &batteries to view these with another battery to fire on the aground. It was so badly mauled ships in battlevii.They consid- wooden redoubt at the far end of that it struck its colors. There were ered them as their own, because of the island & catch with enfilading 350 men on board. The side of the names they have been given & fire the retrenchment facing the is- the ship facing the fort suffered par- because they had an Indian painted lands. Their batteries continued to ticularly badly. Its gun decks were on their flagFiii.They uttered the fire as heavily as on the previous touching the water & the gun ports most frighthl shrieks when they days. Fire broke out in the ruins of were just one gaping hole. The saw the ships so badly mauled. The the storehouse & in the water, which entered the ship, English had convinced them they commandant's apartment. Fortu-

St. Lawrence County Historicnl Association Quarterly nately, we managed to extinguish it This prompted M. Pouchot, The enemy admitted that, in sail- without the enemy perceiving the with the endorsement of all the of- ing past to set up camp, they lost a problems we were having. We had ficers of the garrison, to write to carcassiercFiwhich sank & six of fired very little in order to conserve General Amherst to complain about their bateaux were holed, among the small quantities of powder & this manner of making war, which them that of General Amherst. We shot that we had left. The enemy was only used against rebels and had kept a very special watch out batteries put out of action all the not against a brave garrison that did for it. The general, in polite terms, cannon ofthe bastion facing the is- not deserve such treatment. In re- reprimanded M. Pouchot for this, land. The frames of the parapets ply, he sent his aide de camp with a and M. Pouchot replied: "Sire, we were razed to within two feet of the kind of surrender document mak- wanted to render you the honors terre-plein, thus leaving the pow- ing us prisoners ofwar together with which are due to you." der magazine, whch was only con- a threat that, if we did not accept structed of large wooden beams, within half an hour, he would con- On the Onondaga, which had extremely exposed. tinue as before. run aground, the English had 128 men killed or wounded; on the On the 2P, at daybreak, M. M. Pouchot received the officer Mohawk, the captain wounded & Pouchot opened fire with three & read M. Amherst's message to about fifty men; on the Williamson, guns on the batteries which were the officers of the fort and the as- which they had captured from us, causing us the most trouble. These sembled garrison. The latter urged they had lost 54 men & on the vari- guns were the only ones which re- hmvery strongly to accept the de- ous occasionswhen it had sailed in mained intact to cover the front mands, in view of the impossibility front of the fort another 100. To under attack and one of them, the of preventing fire breaking out ev- this figure should be added the men most important one, was evenmiss- erywhere & ofbeing able to avoid lost on the batteries & in the ing a third of its barrel, having twice the flames because of the small ex- trenches, which they never adrnit- exploded. For a lack of shot of tent ofthe fort & the obstacles cre- ted to. the right caliber, we fired two or ated by the debris. three small balls at a time. From Once the fort had been handed the enemy's movements in their On the front under attack there over, several colonels came to take trenches, we could see that this remained only two serviceable can- M. Pouchot into the present of manner of firing bothered them a non but no ammunition. The exte- General Amherst. They treated good deal. But, we were simply rior batteries of the fort had been him in a very fiiendly manner. He unable to destroy or even to dam- destroyed. Since they, as well as had seen a number of them at age their batteries to any great ex- the epaulements of the retrench- Niagara & in New YorkXliii.They tent. ment, were dominated fiom the is- were afraid that their Indians who lands, we had no protection from appeared very threatening & were Our firing put the English in a an assault. angry at finding nothing in the fort bad mood. In the afternoon they after it had been pillaged by the redoubled the bombardment from On the morning of the 26", soldiers, might seek to do him hm. all their batteries & fired red-hot when the enemy had entered the He thanked them for their solici- shot, pots a feu & carcassesx1. It fort, they were extremely surprised tude. was just too much for our wretched to see only a few soldiers scattered fort, which was nothing more than among the posts they were hand- When he reached the mainland, a shambles of lumber & fascines. ing over & about sixty militiamen many Indians appeared. M. The red-hot shot set fire to the long with a kerchief on their heads and Pouchot went directly up to sev- fascines of the interior revetment wearing shirts and their backsides eral chiefs whom he recognized. wall of the bastion, right down at bare in the Canadian style"". They He said to them: "You have killed the very bottom, where we were asked M. Pouchot where his gar- your father'"", which is not what able to extinguish it. That made us rison was. He replied that they brave men do. So much the worse realize how badly damaged the were looking at all of it. We had for you." They replied: "Do not be rampart was. Pots a feu twice more more than sixty men killed and angry, father, you are going to the set the debris of the fort ablaze. wounded. All the officers had been other side of the great lake"". We Once again we managed to put out more or less seriously wounded. shall get rid of the English." The the fires with water from the shell latter were surprised to see them craters. so calm.

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly General Arnherst had an hour- Islands equal to 6.5 linear feet) long conversation alone with M. vii French shipyard near Maitland, Ontario -"Royal mortars fired a 5.5" diameter mor- Pouchot. He endeavored to ex- "i'i Chief of Oswegatchie Indians at Fort de tar bomb. tract details about what remained la Prisentation; renowned warrior "' Thomas Thorton. The story of the to be done in the campaign. It may Oswego River Falls at Fulton, NY Onondagas action at Fort Le well be imaged that M. Pouchot did " Galop Island-Town of Lisbon vis reads like a Horatio Hornblower epi- not portray his task as an easy one. xi Sir William Johnson sode. (See Amherst report, following.) He seemed, just like the rest ofhis probably Akwesasne mvt probably cloth bags filled with scrap army, to dread going down the rap- probably Kahnawake iron

ids. From among the Canadians, "Iv Battle of Lake George, 8 Sept. 1755 """ i.e., Mohawk and Onondaga they took 36 guides for their "" Literally "Iroquois of the Rapids," per- """each ship reportedly flew a flag depict- bateaux. The garrison & its offic- haps refers to Iroquois village shown on ing a warrior of the respective Indian nation ers were taken by way of Chouegen Mante's 1772, now Akwesasne "* our father = Captain Pouchot, former to New York. M. Belle-Garde, a xv'OhioRiver French commander at Fort Niagara until its Sulpician missionary from La ""ji French warships surrender to the British in 1759 incendiaries designed to start fires inside Msentation, who had prefmed to "jii Honorary name for French governors of stay in the fort and look after the New France. In this case, the King of France. the largely wooden & earthen fort ""During summer campaigns, Canadian mi- wounded, obtained permission to xu Acadia, now Nova Scotia go to Mont-Real with two or three " Governor of New France litia often wore a long shirt and a women. He was an admirable " Probably means Three Rivers, Quebec breechcloth.. .and little else priest because of his enlightened and Fort St. Frederic, now known as Crown "Iiirow-galley religious zeal, which had brought Point, NY. Britain's 1760 plan of attack on Pouchot became a prisoner-or-law after hun to Canada with the sole aim of New France was composed of 3 prongs, his surrender at Fort Niagara and subsequent converting the Indians. The Enghsh attacking from Quebec City, up Lake internment in New York. He was exchanged subsequently returned him to his Champlain and down the Richelieu River, and returned to Montreal in . Pouchot mission post. The English army and thirdly, down the St. Lawrence River arrived at Fort Levis in ...... stayed nearly 15 days preparing for by way of Oswego. "Iiv i.e., allowed the French to be defeated its onward journey. Despite their Near Maitland, Ontario ""great lake=Atlantic Ocean (i.e., Pouchot guides, however, some ofwhom xxiii Captain of the French warship will return to France) may have chosen bad routes, they I 'Outaouaise lost 80 bateaux at Coteau du Lac, ""British row-galleys. This action visually Suggested Reading together with their carcassieres. preserved in Thomas Davies painting "View Pierre Pouchot's Memoirs of the Late of Fort LaGalet." Davies participated in the War Between France and England trans- M. Pouchot & all the French attack on the Outaouaise. lated by Michael Cardy with edits and an- officers, together with the French "Small cannon notation by Brian Leigh Dunnigan is highly soldiers & those of the colony, as ""'L 'Outaouaise, now renamed recommended to those with an interest in part of the terms of surrender of by the British the history of New France in general and of Mont-Real, were taken to France, Pouchot knew several British officers as France's presence on the Upper St. Lawrence while the Candans were sent back a result of his capture by British forces at River in particular. Now out of print, a home. The first of them lefi New Fort Niagara the preceding summer of 1759. revised edition will be published in the near

York on January 1" after a very "jii Tuttle Pt. (Canada) [literally translated future by the Old Fort Niagara Association, stormy crossing they arrived off "Drunkard's Point"] Youngstown, NY. The Old Fort Niagara Spithead, where they remained for Spencer Island (Canada) [literally trans- Association may be contacted through their 15 days, and then put into Havre lated "Chicken Leg Island"] website at: www.oldfortniagara.org which de Grace on 8 March 176 1. =Drummond Island (Canada) also offers a virtual tour of this ancient for- mi Old Galette. As early as the 1680s, La tress so closely connected to Captain ENDNOTES Galette was a stopping point for French Pouchot and Fort de la Presentation. The soldiers & traders. Located near the Cana- use of excerpts from Pouchot's "Memoirs ..." Galloo Island near Sacketts Harbor dian end of Ogdensburg-Prescott Interna- printed in this issue of the Quarterly comes Grenadier Island near AlexandriaBay tional Bridge. with the kind permission of Brian Leigh

jii Mississaugus Indians m'iAlthough Pouchot identifies the captain Dunnigan and Robert Emerson, Executive '' Kingston, Ontario of the Williamson as Smul, actually the cap- Director of the Old Fort Niagara Associa- Cedar Island near Kingston tain was Patrick Sinclair. tion, Inc. vi North Channel between Wallace & Howe ""'200 toises=1278.5 feet (toise is roughly

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly The Siege and Capture of Fort Levis Report of General Jeffrey Amherst to William Pitt from "Fort William Augustus" (Chimney Island, NY)

Introduction-Written and Re- ary War was not altogether origi- This document orimysought searched by David Dickinson nal. It was merely the reverse of a to put forth a simple edited and Students ofNew York State's game plan developed by Britain's annotated manuscript of Jeffrey role in the American Revolution General Sir Jeffrey Arnherst for Amherst's report to William Pitt the perhaps will remember the British subduing the remnants of New Elder of the capitulation of French campaign of 1777. In a three- France in the campaign year of Fort Levis. However, the document pronged attack, General Burgoyne 1760. British troops at Quebec has been augmented with more and was to move south along the City were to sail up the St. more information about notable Richelieu River - Lake Champlain Lawrence River to join with other participants in the Siege of Fort - Lake George corridor and down British troops advancing north over Levis. Several of the individuals the Hudson River in a drive to cap- Lake Champlain and down the named in Amherst's document went ture Albany, the colonial capital of Richelieu River. Under the personal on to some fame during the Arneri- New York. General Howe was to direction ofBritish comrnander-in- can Revolution, either as a British advance up the Hudson River with chief Je&y Amherst, a third army or as an American combatant. the same goal. Barry St. Leger, was was to drive down the St. Other notables have surfaced in to travel up the St. Lawrence River, Lawrence River from Oswego. Brian Leigh Dunnigan's excellent across the eastern end of Lake The ultimate goal for British forces editing and annotating of Captain Ontario and thence down the was the capture of Montreal, the Pierre Pouchot's Memoirs on the Mohawk River to attack Albany last city of New France under Late War in North America Be- hma third btion,thereby split- French control. tween France and England much ting in two not only New York but used in preparation of this docu- also the confederation of colonies. In July and early August, ment. (End of introduction.) What may not be realized is that Amherst's army began to assemble this British plan ofthe Revolution- at Oswego. British regulars and

A postcard of Chimney Island on the St. Lawrence River dated 1907 shows the island after it received its modern name.

17 St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly - 7 \ L-

\

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-I. -1 --,.- - --

;" X B h KO3 0 s; 0 U =0. * ,"s 3 3 .-3 .-, Z n &? 8 z - 5 '3 a *0 .sC 5 2 0 - - In 1 759, French Royal Engineer Jean-Nicolas Desandrouin prepared this schematic of his plan for the lay-out and construction of Fort Levis. Desandrouin was reassigned before Fort Levis was completed. The task of completing and defending Fort Levis was left to Captain Pierre Pouchot.

18 St. Lnwrence County Historic01 Association Quarterly Camp at Fort William Augustus, On the 9h of July I arrived at ordered them away to the river St. Aug't 26th 1760 (by) Major Gen- Oswego, and before any of the Laurence in hopes of cutting off the eral Amherst; R(eceived?) Octo- Regiments which I had sent from Enemy's vessels fbm their harbour. ber 6'th by capt. ~rescott. Albany could reach it, two French Our vessels are the Onondaga and Dupl(icate) rec'd the Day before vessels had appeared off of Os- Mohawk, the first carrying four 9 by Major Barre." wego on the 6". I dispatched some pounders, fourteen 6 pounders and Bateaus & men to Capt. Loring' 100 seamen, the other carrying six- Camp at Fort William Augustus at Niagm giving him intelligence of teen 6 pounders and 90 seamen. 26h August, 1760 the vessels. They sailed in quest of the enemy's vessels who appeared off of Os- (To) The Right Honorable Mr. Pit& On the 12fithe French vessels wego again on the 20thand with appeared off the harbour and as I the precautions I had taken in send- sir, expected the two snows2hourly ing a detachment forward, and giv- from Niagara, I sent out some ing intelligence to Capt. Loring, I I shall now give you an account bateaus towards that place to in- was in hopes he could not have of the progress of His Majesty's duce the enemy vessels to try to missed them, but they escaped h. Troops under my immediate com- intercept them, but they stood to- mand since the date of the last let- wards Cataraqui3. On the 23d Sir William Johnson ter I did myselfthe honour to write arrived with a great part of the In- to you on the 29of June from The .14a in the evening our two dians, the troops came in daily bm Schenectady. vessels appeared. I put every thing Albany. on board that could be wanted and

- Fort d &heplan made, but it ummr filly complrtd. '. LamontPgru. 1977).

Artist J.C. Lamontagne 's conception of the appearance of Fort Levis on Isle Royale in 1760. In the distance Isle a la Cuisse (modern era Spencer Island) at the left and Isle la Magdelain (modern era Drummond Island) on the right; the sites of British gun batteries during the Siege of Fort Levis.

19 St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly On the 25~I had the honour of left Oswego the next morning and up the River. Colonel Williamson dvingyour letter ofthe 2gmApril joined me the third day. attacked her with the five row-gal- by Capt. Abercrombf enclosing a leys. The wind became calm, which copy of the orders relative to Lord On the 15", I passed our two favored much. The row-galleys George Sackville and in obedience vessels that were got out ofthe right could not do better than they did. to His Majesty's commands I have channel and could not get down, They fired one hundred and eigh- given out the said orders to all the nothing withstanding I had given the teen rounds. The vessel fired sev- Troops in No(&) America. best pilots I could procure. The enty-two, had three men killed, same day I joined Colonel twelve wounded, and then struck On the 31" Abercromby's Haldimand's advanced Corps, and (surrendered). A sergeant of Artil- Regiment with the detachment of had intelligence by an Oswegatchie lery was killed on board one of the Gage's and New Yorkers, which I Indian that one of the Enemy's ves- row-galleys and a New York Pro- had sent to Presque Isle, arrived. sels had run aground7and was so vincial lost his leg. The vessel had much damaged she could not sail ten 12 pounders with four swivels The 5" August, I received a let- from the Fort and that the other (hvelcannon) and 100 men com- ter bmColonel Montgomery with vessel lay off LaGallette. I deter- manded by Monsieur LaBroquerie. an account of his success in attack- mined not to wait for our vessels This day I took possession of ing and beating the Cherokee Indi- and fixed a howitzer on board one Swegatchie9and encamped there ans and destroying their Towns, the row-galley, the other four having and sent two Engineers with Par- greatest stroke the Indians have felt. twelve pounders to attack the ves- ties down the River to view the sel with. coasts and situation of the islands The 6th in the afternoon near L'Isle Royale. Murray's Regiment arrived and the On the 16" I had made no halt next morning I detached Colonel from the time I left Oswego. I On the 18h at daybreak, the Haldimand with the Light Infantry thought proper from the report I advanced Guard was ready but the of the Army, Grenadiers, and one had received of the situation of the repairs of the row galleys and ves- battalion of Royal Highlanders to Enemy's ships not to lose a mo- sels tookup some time. The Engi- take post at the Bottom of the Lake ment but proceed down the River neers did not return until ten o'clock and assist the vessels in finding a to Swegatchie, and to attack their in the morning. It was excessive passage to La GalletteS. post at Isle Royales. The advanced bad weather but I was determined guard consisting of the Rangers, to seize the first moment to invest The 8" and 9" Schuyler's Regi- Gage's Light Infantry ofRegiments, the place and as the report of the ment arrived and on the 10" at day- and Grenadiers, with five row-gal- Engineers made no alteration of the break, I ordered the whole Army leys under the command of Colo- disposition I had made, I pursued to embark. The preparing (of the) nel Grant. It was very late in the it in the following manner. I took batteaus was not quite completed day when I reached the Point de with me Gage's Regiment, three so that I proceeded with the Regu- Baril with the advanced Guard and row galleys, the Light Infantry, lars and left Br(igadier) General I sent back to Br(igadier) General Grenadiers, first Brigade of Regu- Gage to bring up the Provincials Gage to land on the north shore in lars, Schuyler's Regiment of and the Rear. And as the sixth row- case he could not reach the Point Provincials, and the greatest part galley was not quite finished, I left de Baril. Soon after we discov- of the Indians with Sir William it behind. ered the French vessel and it was Johnson and some light field pieces impossible not to push on to try to (cannon), and rowed down by the I enclose to you, Sir, the Em- attack her as it was a calm. She North Shore passed the Fort and barkation return and the number of fired her signal guns on seeing the took possession of the Islands and whaleboats and Batteaus with advanced guard. Night came on Coast below it while two Compa- which I proceeded on the Lake6, so fast that it was impractical to at- nies of Rangers, two row-galleys, and although some were lost and tack her and then I ordered the the secolid Brigade of Regulars, staved I had the good fortune to advanced guard to row into the Lyman's Regiment of Provincials have only one man drowned. The south shore and the Army late at and the remainder of the Indians night of the day I set out from Os- night reached the Point de Baril. under the command of Col. wego proved to be very bad, that I Haldimand were to row down the was lucky in not losing many more The 17fi at daybreak the En- South Shore to take post opposite batteaus. Br(igadier) General Gage emy vessel made an attempt to sail to the Fort where they were under

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly The historic site of Fort Levis, on the Town of Lisbon S Chimney Island, remains unmarked on the U.S. side of the St. Lawrence River. Canadians have, however, marked the site with a large stone monument and bronze tablet. Located on Highway #2 near Johnstown, Ontario, the monument confirms what most Americans do not know--that the last battle between France and Great Britain was fought on and around Chimney Island for control of Canada. All photos on this page courtesy of David Dickinson

- .. '. This blue and gold sign points the way to the The Fort Levis monument on HWY #2 near monument Johnstown, Ontario.

The tablet found on the Fort levis monument.

I I St. Lawrence County Historicnl Associnrion Quarterly cover. Three other Provincial Regi- 20th,I ordered the Provincial you a thorough insight into affairs ments and the heavy artillery re- Regiments hmSwegatchie, leav- here. mained at Swegatchie. The vessel ing one Regiment of the Connecti- sailed down the middle of the River cut Troops posted at that place. I send you a list of the Artillery, between two columns to anchor at Stores, etc. that have been taken random shot from the Fort. This 23d began to fire from all the in the Fort which I intend to have was effected with a smart cannon- Batteries. The Enemy drew in their repaired as I think it by much the ading from the Fort on the troops guns and tried to put them under best Situation I can take for entirely rowing along the north shore and cover. After some firing, I made a covering the Mohawk River and all against the vessel which sunk one disposition for storming the Fort that part of His Majesty's Domin- row-galley, killed two men in an- with the Grenadiers of the Army ions from the Insults or Inroads of other row galley. One man had his and ordered the vessels to fall the Savages and I beg leave to add thigh shot off and seven were down close on the Fort, having put my assurances that I shall make the wounded. Several boats and oars as many marksmen on board each utmost dispatch I can in proceed- struck with their shot. At eleven at ship as the commanding officers ing down the River St. Laurence night the last boat came in and the chose to have in order to keep the and prosecuting the operations of Place was completely invested. Isle Enemy from their batteries. The the Campaign according to His Gallot and L' Abbe Piquet's Island going down of the vessels to the Majesty's gracious Intentions. were found abandoned, the Enemy Fort was not effected in the man- having left them in great huny as ner I could have wished and I de- I am with the utmost Respect, Sir we found the scalps they had taken teednot to pursue my plan that Your most Humble on the Mohawk River (along) with day. The Fort fired a great deal of and most Obedient Servant tools and utensils of various kinds, munition without much execu- Jeff. Amherst" two swivels, barrels ofpitch and a tion13and our batteries by degrees quantity of iron. Our Indians, on dismounted their guns and made Notes finding the scalps, bumt the Chapel them very shy of standing to their In typing Amherst's report, modem and all the houses. In the night I Batteries. spellings generally were used for the tried to get up the row-galley that sake of clarity. was sunk but could not effect it. The fire of our batteries con- tinued till yesterday in the afternoon 1- British Royal Navy Commo- On the lgth at daybreak I when the Ganison beat a parley dore Joshua Loring was placed in viewed the Islands with Colonel and I received a Letter hmMon- charge of Royal Navy operations on Williamson and Lt. Col. Eyrel0and sieur Pouchot, Commandant, a Lake Ontario. His duties included su- fixed the Batteries, one on each of copy of which, Sir, I send you en- pervision of construction of British ves- the two islands nearest the Fort" closed, and I sent him the terms of sels on those lakes. Loring commanded and one on a point of land on the Capitulation signed that he might the British fleet on Lake Ontario. Dur- south shoreI2.Detachments were copy it, sign it, and send it back to ing the Siege of Fort Levis, Loring, as immediately to open ground. The me, after which Lt. Col. Massey commodore, sailed on the "Onondaga" Fort fired at the vessel which was with three companies of Grena- captained by Thomas Thorton. In returned but I directed Lt. Sinclair diers took possession of the Fort. heavy firing between the "Onondaga" to whom I had given the command and Fort Levis, the "Onondaga" took of the vessel to avoid firing rather many hits, ran aground, and lowered than keep it up. In the afternoon As I imagine, Sir, it may be a- her flag in surrender. Amherst blamed our two vessels appeared. I sent greeable to you to know several the ship's misfortune on Loring; Loring orders to them to anchor at ran- particulars of our passage on the blamed it on Thorton. According to the dom shot fiom the Fort and to avoid Lake, the Siege of the Fort, and "New York Mercury" newspaper of 29 firing. At night I got the row-galley the apparent situation of this Coun- September, 1760, the "Onondaga" ex- up and saved the gun that was try, I send Capt. Prescott, one of pended 892 rounds of shot from her wounded but not rendered unser- my Aides de Camp with this, that cannon in her attack on Fort Levis; dur- viceable, prepared fascines and he may give you clear information ing which 15 sailors were killed, another everyhng for carrying on the Siege of any thing you may choose to 15 mortally woun'ded. {ed. note: The and ordered the heavy artillery to know and I enclose to you all pa- accounts of the fighting of the come down this night from pers that I judge may tend to give "Onondaga" during the Siege of Fort Swegatche. Levis-appear worthy of a Hornblower

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly tale. Aground between Fort Levis and of the St. Lawrence River at the head of Ogdensburg. See "Swegatchie" below. Isle Picquet (Galop Island), out of am- the first series of rapids that character- 6- "Lake" refers to Lake Ontario. munition, Captain Loring claims that he ized the river between its beginning and 7- The ship to which Amherst demands that his men continue to re- Montreal. The approximate site of refers is the L'Iroquoise, a French ves- sist. The crew refuses and lowers the LaGalette is near Johnstown, Ontario. sel of ten guns that was completed in ship's colors without permission. They A map drawn by or for Fort Levis' com- April, 1759 at the fortified shipyard of want to send a boat to Fort Levis to ask mander, Pierre Pouchot, subsequent to Pointe au Baril, represented on modem for terms from the French but Loring the Siege, locates "Laville Galette" (sic) maps as Weatherheads Point near threatens to shoot the first sailor who on the northern shore of the St. Maitland, Ontario. After being refloated, puts hand to oar. The crew persuades Lawrence River about opposite of mod- the vessel was taken to Fort Levis by Loring to send Thorton to the French if ern era Chimney Point. However, the French and scuttled off of the down- only to stall for time. The French de- Pouchot, in his memoirs, refers to the stream tip of the fortress island. It was mand that Loring also come ashore to site as "La Vieille Galette" (Old Galette). later raised by the British and sailed on Fort Levis but he refuses. In the mean- The original LaGalette remained in ex- Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence time, British grenadiers board the istence as a camp or perhaps a redoubt River until it again ran aground and sank "Onondaga" and again raise British but was assigned a minor military role. a few years later. colors. The French resume firing dur- LaGalette was also the site of one of 8- "Isle Royale" was the French ing which Loring has the calf of his leg several Native villages associated with name applied to the island on which Fort tom away by a French cannonball. All the mission-fort la Presentation. Brit- Levis was established. The island was on board the Onondaga go below decks ish sources contemporary to the Siege also known by the name "Oraconenton" to seek rehge from French fire after a of Fort Levis apparently were uncertain or "Orakointon" or a variation thereof, third of the grenadiers are wounded. Fi- of the geography of the region of the in honor of the name given by the La nally, in the dark of the night of August St. Lawrence River in which the Siege Presentation native matriarchs to Gen- 23-24, the "Onondaga" was abandoned of Fort Levis took place. British sources eral Francois Gaston, Duc de Levis in by her British defenders.) use the term "LaGallette" to refer vari- 1759, a name meaning "suspended (or 2- "Snow" was a sailing vessel ously to Fort Levis or, more commonly, hanging) sun." On modem maps it is equipped with two masts resembling the to Fort de la Presentation. Fort de la represented as Chimney Island. The fore and main masts of a ship with a Presentation was founded in 1749 on island and the remains of its fort were third smaller mast just to the rear of the the southern shore of the St. Lawrence largely destroyed by the New York State main mast. River, opposite and just upstream from Power Authority during construction of 3- "Cataracqui" is represented old LaGalette. Fort de la Presentation the St. Lawrence Seaway-FDR Power on modern maps by the City of was determined to be indefensible by Project in the mid 1950s. Kingston, in the Province of Ontario, the French and was gradually aban- 9- "Swegatchie," was an Anglo- Canada. French Fort Frontenac was doned in the winter of 1759-1760. Its American rendering of the Native Ameri- located at Cataracqui. It was located on replacement, Fort Levis, was started in can word Soegatsi for the river that the northern shore of Lake Ontario at 1759 and was under construction even flowed into the St. Lawrence from the the beginning point of the St. Lawrence as the British Invasion Army appeared. south at the point where French Abbe River. British officer and artist Thomas Davies, Francois Picquet established Fort de la 4 Captain James Abercromby painter of "A View of Fort LaGalet" Presentation in 1749. The mission vil- was an officer of the 42ndRegiment of (National Gallery of Canada) portrays lage adjoining Fort de la Presentation Foot and aide-de-camp to General Fort de la Presentation and the capture was also known as Soegatsi, with many Amherst. Captain Abercromby died in of the French vessel Ottawa. The title variant spellings. The name has carried 1775 as a result of wounds suffered of his painting perpetuates the misno- down to the present time in the form of while leading British troops at the Battle mer. The historian Thomas Mante, in "Oswegatchie." On modem maps the of Bunker Hill. His infamous uncle, his book The History of the late War in name is still used to denote the river Major General James Abercromby, was North America and the Islands of the Oswegatchie and is also memorialized derisively called "Mrs. Nabercromby" West-Indies (1772), shows amap ofthe in the Township of Oswegatchie. by American provincials dissatisfied St. Lawrence River which marks the site 10- Lt. Col. Eyre, in this reference, with the older Abercromby's perfor- of Fort LaGalet precisely where Fort de is probably Lt. Col. William Eyre, de- mance in the disastrous British attack la Presentation was located in actuality. signer of Amherst's Crown Point fortifi- on Fort Carillon/Ticonderoga in 1758. The site of Fort de la Presentation, the cation, commander of Fort Niagara be- 5- "LaGallette." In 1682, France "LaGalette" to which Amherst seems to ginning 27 November, 1759 and com- established a camp or stopping point, refer, is located within the present city mander of the 44" Regiment during the called LaGalette, on the northern shore limits of the northem New York City of siege of Fort Levis.

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly 11- The two islands to which King of France, which was actually that Murray - probably Colonel James Amherst refers are represented on mod- day, and the French were really not much Murray of the 60" Regiment of Foot. ern maps as Spencer Island and concerned if they were thus celebrat- Col. Frederic Haldimand - Commanded Drummond Island, both in Canadian ing. But they were mistaken; for the real British forces moving along the south waters. They were known by the French purpose was to use up all the arnmuni- (US) shore of the St. Lawrence River as "Isle la Cuisse" and "Isle tion so that the enemy would not profit during initial stages of the Siege of Fort Magdelaine" respectively. Amherst's by it. At 10 o'clock in the morning, the Levis. He later became Governor of gun emplacements are still visible on firing ceased and the flag was Canada, responsible for settling United the tip of Drummond Island. lowered."(Gallup. p. 184-185) Empire Loyalists on Canadian lands 12- The point of land to which along the upper St. Lawrence River. Amherst refers was known to the French Names mentioned in Amherst's docu- Also British colonial governor of as Pointe de Ganataragoin and is rep- ment: (in order of appearance) Florida. resented on modem maps as Chimney Captain Joshua Loring (see note # 1 Point on the US shore. There is some above) Colonel Peter Schuyler - Commander of indication (Hough, p.35-36) that the site Sir William Johnson - Famed British New Jersey Provincials. This provin- was used in 1673 by the Sieur de la Indian agent, officer in command at the cial regiment continued on to Montreal Veltrie to locate a storehouse in sup- capture of Fort Niagara in 1759, and Brit- as part of Amherst's invasion force. port of Count de Frontenac's journey ish leader of Native warriors consti- On September 10,1760the regiment was to Lake Ontario. Frontenac's expedition tuting approximately 800 of Amherst's ordered to return to Fort William rested there (9- 10 July, 1673)before re- combatants during the Siege of Fort Augustus (Fort Levis), along with New suming their journey. Some time after Levis. York troops, to make repairs to the fort. the British seizure of Fort Levis, the Brit- Captain James Abercromby - see foot- On 18 September, the New Jersey regi- ish government relocated some of the note # 3 above. ment was relieved by the 80" Regiment native peoples who were formerly part Lord George Sackville of Foot and began its journey home via of the La Presentation Mission to the Brigadier General Thomas Gage - In Fort Oswego. Schuyler and his New point of land. As a result, it was called charge of the vanguard of General Jersey regiment reached Albany on 15 Indian Point for a time. In the early Braddock's forces as they came under November. (Pouchot-398 #1244) 1800s, at the urging of the citizens of attack in the opening stages of Elements of Rangers - under Ranger the Town of Lisbon the native peoples Braddock's Defeat, slightly wounded at Commanders Ogden and Waite at Indian Point were again forced to re- the British defeat at Fort Carillon WYte) locate by American authorities. With (Ticonderoga) in 1758. In 1759 under Colonel Grant - probably Lt. Col. James this relocation, the Oswegatchies, as command of Amherst, Gage returned to Grant of the 77" Regiment of Foot. Grant they were known, ceased to exist. Fort Ticonderoga which was success- served as a British officer during the 13- This comment by General fully takenby British Forces. Gage was American Revolution. Amherst is interesting when compared sent to Fort Niagara and, after its sur- C olonel Williamson - probably Colonel to the memoirs of one Charles Bonin, a render, ordered by Amherst to attack George Williamson of the British Royal French soldier present at the surrender Fort LaGalette (Fort de la Presentation1 Artillery. Col. Williamson lead a success- of George Washington at Fort Neces- Fort Levis complex). However, Gage ful Royal Artillery attack on the French sity, at Braddock's Defeat.. .and at Fort disobeyed Amherst's order on the vessel 1 'Outaouaise by arming each of Levis when held under siege by Gen- grounds that his force was too weak. five row-galleys with a single cannon. eral Amherst. Bonin, also known as Governor of Canada in 1760, in 1762 ap- Williamson's action is portrayed in Bonnefons, was selected by Fort Le- pointed Commander-in-chiefof British Davies' painting "A View vis' commander, Pierre Pouchot, to serve forces in North America based in New of Fort LaGalet." Davies commanded him as a secretary. Bonin's record of York City. Governor of Massachusetts one of the row galleys. the Siege of Fort Levis contains a pas- in 1774 but removed after word of the After its capture, the French brig sage that may explain Amherst's com- Battle of Bunker Hill reached London. L 'Outaouaise was renamed the ment. "Finally, on the 25". Commander Colonel Montgomery - probably Williamson in Col. Williamson's honor. Pouchot, realizing further resistance Archibald Montgomery. He assembled The vessel was subsequently crewed would be futile, began at daybreak to a regiment of Scots soldiers which ulti- by British sailors and used against the fire salutes from the cannons as long as mately became the 77" Regiment of Foot French during the Siege of Fort Levis. the powder lasted, doing this to use up (Montgomery's Highlanders). In 1760, General Phineas Lyman - Commissioned the rest of the war munitions. This as- Montgomery lead an unsuccessful March, 1760 as Colonel of First Regi- tonished the enemy, who had no other campaign against the Cherokee Indians ment, ConnecticutProvincials and Cap- thought that it was the birthday of the in South Carolina. tain of its First Company, from Suffield,

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly CT. Under Haldimand's command, Lt. Col. Eyre Massey - Commander of a liam Howe as American army Lyman's troops occupied the southern composite grenadier battalion of 592 of- escaped from Long Island to Harlem (US) shore and Galop Island. Lyman's ficers and grenadiers taken from six Heights (now mid-town Manhattan) in Connecticut soldiers took many casu- separate infantry regiments. During 1776 during American Revolution. Al- alties getting through the rapids of the the Siege of Fort Levis, Amherst con- though much praised for his service in St. Lawrence in their approach to templated a forced landing on Isle the American Revolution, Putnam's Montreal. On or about September loth, Royale's Fort Levis. He ordered that early and most sympathetic biographers while at Montreal, Amherst only the officers and sergeants of credit him with a most improbable ac- put Lyman in command of all four Con- Massey's force be armed with muskets tion during the Siege of Fort Levis. necticut regiments, ordering Lyman & while the regulars were to attack carry- Rather than crediting the British Royal three of the four CT regiments back to ing swords, axes, tomahawks, and scal- Artillery in row galleys Fort Levis( Fort William Augustus) to ing ladders. (Pouchot 307, # 920). The for the capture of the French vessel rebuild the fort. In an October 12,1760 attack was to be mounted from Isle la I'Outaouaise, some Putnam letter from Lyman to General Amherst, Cuisse (Spencer's Island). Several such biographers allege that Putnam and a Lyman reported that two barracks at attempts were made but beaten back by small crew sneaked up in the French Fort LevisEort William Augustus had French gunners. Interestingly, a mod- ship, disabling her rudder with wedges to be newly constructed and that two em era duck hunter reports finding an and thus preventing her from maneu- casemates and the chimney there had object identified as a ferrous metal pike vering to avoid capture. to be pulled down and totally rebuilt. head on Spencer's Island quite near Eleazor Fitch of Windham, (Clark, p. 52-53) {ed note: this is inter- the area from which such attacks were CT.. .commissioned in March, 1760 as esting in light of the future name of the launched. Colonel in command of Fourth Regi- island, ie: "Chimney Island".) Lyman's Capt. Robert Prescott - aide de camp to ment, Connecticut Provincials. He and biographer, Delphina L.H. Clark, reports General Jeffrey Amherst and officer in his regiment posted to that one third of all Connecticut troops the 15" Regiment of Foot. Pointe au Ganataragoin (Chimney Point) in this campaign were "lost" and that it during the Siege of Fort Levis. (Pouchot was the "sickliest campaign of the war." Other Angl+Arnericans involved in the 304n, #9 12) (Clark, p. 53) One of Connecticut's fa- attack and siege of Fort Levis: David Wooster of New Haven, mous warriors of the French and Indian Colonel Nathan Whiting ofNew Haven, CT.. .commissioned March, 1760 as Wars, Phineas Lyman remained CT.. .commissioned March, 1760 as Colonel in command of the Third Regi- loyal to the Crown contrary to the sym- Colonel in command of the Second Regi- ment, Connecticut Provincials. Posted pathies of many of his neighbors in ment, Connecticut Provincials. to Point au Ganataragoin (Chimney Suffield, CT. A speculator in land, Posted to remain at.. .and comments Point) during the Siege of Fort Levis. Lyman sold his Suffield holdings in late on.. .Fort de la Presentation (Pouchot 30411, #9 12)Colonel 1773 to relocate in British "West (Pouchot 289n,#873) where Amherst ini- Bartholomew LeRoux, commander of Florida" near the juncture of the Mis- tially parks his artillery and where Whit- First Battalion, New York Provincial sissippi and Yazoo Rivers. ing guards French Captain LaBroquerie Regiment & muster master for colonial Lt. Col. William Eyre - Designer of of the captured French vessel Dutchess County, New York. Crown Point, British fortification that L 'Outaot!aise. (Pouchot 260n, #790 Ogden's Rangers -part of Roger's Rang- replaced French Fort St. Frederic and Major Israel Putnam of Pomfret, CT.. ers. This individual was probably Cap- commander at Fort Niagara in 1759. commissioned in March, 1760 as Lt.- tain Jonathan Ogden, who with Robert Patrick Sinclair - A lieutenant in the 2nd Colonel (second in command) of the Rogers, made his way back to Old (Fort) Battalion of the 42nd Regiment of Foot Fourth Regiment'and captain of its 2nd Number Four following a raid deep into (Black Watch), was placed in command Company, Connecticut Provincials. A French territory to attack the Indian of the newly captured vessel famous Indian fighter and Revolution- village of St. Francis. This action por- Williamson at the commencement of the ary War hero. Endeared himself to the trayed in the Hollywood production Siege of Fort Levis. Fort Levis' French people of Boston in 1774 when he drove "Northwest Passage." commander, Pierre Pouchot, remarked a flock of sheep into the city under Capt. Joseph Waite (Whyte's) Rangers on Sinclair's bravery in blockade by General Gage and his Brit- - part of Roger's Rangers. fighting the ship against the French fort. ish forces. At the Battle of Bunker Hill Colonel Isaac Corsa, commander of 2nd Eventually, a cannonball from ~6rtLe- the reputed giver of the famous order Battalion, New York Regiment. Col. vis cut the Williamson's anchor cable. "Don't shoot until you see the whites Corsa reported to General Amherst that She, like the Mohawk, dnfted down of their eyes!" Soldiers commanded by his command had lost 89 men, either river out of action. (Pouchot 304, #910 Putnam barely managed to avoid "drowned, killed, or died" (Pouchot 399, and 308, #922) capture by British forces under Sir Wil- #1244) during the campaign to invade the upper St. Lawrence River.

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly Captain Osborn - left at Chimney Island 296n #893) Levis. French soldier and journal by General Amherst to command Thieves: Christian Parkey, sutler, keeper; present among French forces capptured Fort Levis, newly re-named Abraham Willey, and Jacob Miller. as young George as British Fort William Augustus. (Pouchot 3 15N,#942) Washington surrendered Fort Neces- Lt. David Phipps - British Royal Navy John Bremner (Pouchot 3 10, #923 and sity as well as at Braddock's Defeat. commander of the vessel Mohawk.. 3 12n, #934). This British soldier in the Captured at Fort Levis and returned to The Mohawk, on August 23,1760, led 55" Regiment kept a journal during the France as a prisoner-of-war. Bonin's the line of three British vessels to at- Siege of Fort Levis. service in the French military puts him tack Fort Levis. For some reason, the Thomas Davies, Lieutenant in British both at the opening engagements of other two ships were slow to follow Royal Artillery - famous British artist the French and Indian War as well as its and, for a time, the Mohawk took the who recorded British victory over last battle. English language brunt of fire from Fort Levis. A French French vessel Outaouaise in version of his journal published under cannonball stove in one of her planks. opening action of the Siege of Fort Le- the title "Memoir of a French and In- Lt. Phipps considered the hit a signifi- vis, an action in which the artist dian War Soldier" edited by Andrew cant risk to the vessel and ordered her actually participated. (Pouchot Gallup. anchor cable cut. The Mohawk drifted 302n,#905). Davies' painting, "A View Militiaman Bray - first name un- downriver toward the Galop Islands and of Fort LaGalet," misidentifies Fort de known - a young deserter returned to out of action. (Pouchot-308, #922). la Presentation as Fort LaGalet but gives Fort Levis by his father, the latter re- Lt. John Small - 42nd Regiment of Foot. a fair representation of this French fort corded by Pouchot as a resident of Isle (Pouchot 304N, # 9 10) Escorted Fort founded in 1749 by Abbe Francois aux Cedres. Militiaman Bray was one Levis' French prisoners-of-war to New Picpet. William Hervey, British Captain of twelve French soldiers killed during York City by way of Oswego. Partici- in the 44" Regiment of Foot and a jour- the Siege of Fort Levis. pated in the Revolutionary War as a lieu- nal-keeper during the Siege of Fort Le- tenant-colonel in command of the Sec- vis. The son of the Earl of Bristol, his ond Battalion, 841h Regiment of Foot. journals were published in 1906 and British cannon and their locations dur- (Royal Highland Emigrants) provide detailed and interesting infor- ing the Siege of Fort Levis Captain Adam Williamson, Royal Artil- mation about the Siege of Fort Levis. Placement, calibres and #s of each lery His journals serve as the British equiva- Pointe de Ganataragoinl Chimney Point LLt. Pennington lent to French commander Pouchot's 12 pounders--four Captain Starkey day-by-day memoirs of the battle. His royal mortar (5.5"dia)--one Peter Pond (Pouchot 296% #893) served detail is such that even the passwords- coehorn mortar--two in Connecticut Light infantry. A por- of-the-day are recorded. (See: Journals tion of Pond's journals, that dealing with of Hon. WilliamHervey, 1755-1814 in Isle de la Magdelaine/Drummond Island his service in the French and Indian bibliography) 24 pounders-- three War, was published in 1907. The rnanu- 12 pounders--three* script preserves Pond's interesting Named French combatants involved in 10 inch mortar-- one mastery of the English language but the Siege of Fort Levis: (see Pouchot, 8 inch howitzer-- one contains only a brief description of p. 259 & 260n #79 1) coehorn mortar--two his serve in Amherst's campaign Artillery Officer against Fort Levis. Pond's Bertrand (first name unknown) the first Isle la CuisseISpencer Island fame came later as a fur trader, explorer casualty of the Siege of Fort Levis. 24 pounders--three and amateur cartographer in Killed on the battlements of Fort Levis 12 pounders--three* Canada's Northwest, resulting in in the opening salvo of British artillery 10 inch mortar-- one knighthood. He was one of the founders while pointing out lo- 8 inch howitzer--one of the Northwest Fur Company and a cations of British artillery to French coehorn mortar--two charter member of the "Beaver Club" Commander Pouchot. founded in Montreal in 1785. In old Captain Celoron One of the 12 pounders destined age, Pond returned to his birthplace, Lt. Celoron either for Isle la Cuisse or Isle de la Milford, CT, dying penniless there. His Lt. LaBoularderie Magdelaine was left behind at Oswego. journals were salvaged from the house- Lt. DeBleury Amherst records that another cannon hold of Connecticut Governor Charles Ensign de Poilly (maybe) was ordered substituted but no indica- Hobby Pond in 1868.William Arnherst, Ensign Hertel de Rouville (maybe) tion was made of its caliber. (Pouchot, commander of 80" Regiment of Foot and JCB - "Jolicoeur" Charles Bonin. p.306, #917) brother to Jeffrey Amherst. (Pouchot Served as Pouchot's secretary at Fort

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly Bibliography of Sources Aldrman, Clifford Lindsey. The Royal Opposition. New York: Macmillan Com- pany, 1970. Clark, Delphina L.H. Phineas Lyman, Connecticut's General. Springfield, Mass.: Connecticut Valley Historical Museum, 1964. Everts, L.H. & Co., compiler. Hzitory of St. Lawrence Co., New York, 1749- 1878.. .Philadelphia:L.H. Everts, 1878. Gallup, Andrew, editor. Memoir of a French and Indian War Soldier - "Jolicoeur" Charles Bonin. Bowie, MD: Heritage Books, 1993. Hervey, Hon William. Journals of the Honorable William Hervey in North America and Europe from 1755 to 1814. Bury St. Edmunds, England: Paul and Mathew, 1906. Hough, Franklin. History of St. Lawrence and Franklin Counties, New York (reprint of 1853 publication). Bal- timore: Regional Publishing Company, 1970. Pouchot, Pierre. Memoirs on the Late War in North America Between En- gland and France. Trans. by Michael Cardy. Editedlannotated by Brian Leigh Dunnigan. Youngstown, NY: Old Fort Niagara Association, 1994.

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly Memoirs of a French and Indian War Soldier:

CCJolicoeur" Charles Bonin Edited by Andrew Gallup

Introduction-Written and Re- country to join forces with the army our island, but without success. searched by David Dickinson at Quebec and the central army. They then began a cannonade and One is tempted to say that They were to meet at Montreal. bombardment on the 18h, and kept Charles Bonin was a common Accordingly, we took measures for it up without interruption until the French soldier. It is true that he defense to hinder this junction as 25~.Commander Pouchot, real- was a rank and file French soldier, much as we could. For this pur- izing hrther resistance would be a cannonier-bombardier (gunner- pose, we had two small sailboats futile, began at daybreak to fire sa- mortarman) in the land-based ar- two leagues above Fort Levis at the lutes from the cannons as long as tillery of the French Navy. How- entrance to Lake Ontario. These the powder lasted, doing this to use ever, Charles Bonin was an unusual two sailboatsusually plied between up the rest of the war munitions. French soldier in that he wrote out Fort Niagara and the fort of La This astonished the enemy, who had recollections of his participation in Galette; but after the capture of no other thought than that it was the French and Indian Wars. Of these posts they were no longer in the birthday of the king of France, particular interest are Bonin's ac- use. It was decided to place them which was actuallythat day, and the counts of his presence during the as guard ships, so they could warn French were really not much con- Siege of Fort Levis and his subse- Fort Levis by three cannon shots cerned if they were thus celebrat- quent interment as a prisoner-of- as soon as the enemy came in sight. ing. But they were mistaken; for war in New York City. Charles the real purpose was to use up all Bonin's works first were published When on the 16a of August the the ammunition so that the enemy in Canada under the French lan- enemy appeared, the two boats, of would not profit by it. At ten guage title Voyage au Canada course, fired the three cannon shots o'clock in the morning, the firing duns le nord de I'Amerique as signal. But an hour later they ceased and the flag was lowered. Septentrionale, depuis l'an 1751 were surrounded by several gun- Then the enemy sent us an officer a 1761 as edited by Abbe H. R. boats, which despite their resis- with a flag of truce. We agreed Casgrain in 1887. The most re- tance forced the French to strike with hun on the terms of capitula- cent English language edition, ed- their flags. The Enghsh seized them tion, which were that the garrison ited, copyrighted, and excerpted and compelled the crews to sail up would march out next morning with here with the permission of Andrew to fire on the fort. This was carried the honors ofwar, then ground their Gallup, was published in 1993 by out at once. Fort Levis then re- arms, and be taken prisoners to Heritage Books of Bowie, Mary- turned fire. One of these boats, New York, where they would re- land. already badly damaged, ran main aground a league farther down. Memoirs The other boat, which did not re- At eight o'clock the next morn- June 6, a detachment of one treat, was riddled with bullets and ing, we left the fort, as had been hundred and fifty men under Cap- ran aground in hntof the fort. The agreed the evening before. We tain Pouchoti came to Fort Levis fire from the fort was unceasing were kept under guard for two to reinforce its garrison. In this upon the boat and upon the enemy hours, while they inspected the fort. way, the effective force was raised army which was filing along the The enemy with a force of ten thou- to three hundred and seventy-five shore to the north, losing not less sand men commanded by General men. When this captain arrived, he than three bateaux and several men. Amherstii,was astonished that such took command and appointed me a small force held out so long and his secretary. At once, he put me After the entire army had prevented their attempt to land. in charge of the powder magazine. passed, they came to set up bat- The enemy general could not keep Word came that an English army teries on the island nearest the fort. fiom praising the French, with the was to come through the upper They even attempted a landing on remark that he was surprised that

St. Lawrence County Historical Associntion Quarterly more men had not been killed, since on the 20" of September. When I This city has only one fine street, he had partially destroyed the fort. landed, I went to lodge with the in the center of which they have Actually, during the siege, we lost others in the house allotted to us. market and butcher's stalls. Most only fourteenmen; and we had only We were free to leave it as we of the houses on this street are of thirty-five wounded, twelve of pleased, to walk about the city and brick. This is the street I have called whom remained in the fort, unable its surroundings. The house was the "grand plaza"". On the other to march out with us. It is true that situated at the end of the Place streets the houses are ofwood. we lost sixteen on the two boats d'Armes, and faced the harbor. which the enemy seized. We had Notes as a result, at the time of the ca- This city, rectangular in shape, ' The same man was commander pitulation, only three hundred and is in a fine location on the end of at Niagara when it was taken on thirty-three men, twenty-three of Manhattan Island. The island is June 26,1756 (JCB). Actually, he them wounded. The enemy lost three leagues long and one league was commander at Niagara when fifty-six men. wide. It is bounded on the north- it was taken in July, 1759 (PHC). west by the Hudson River, whose Pouchot had done an earlier tour On the 27~of August, we were mouth is two miles away, and (before 1759) at Niagara. He was embarked in boats, escorted by fifty bounded on the east by the long sent there to improve the fortifica- men. We went to the south of lake island, called Long Island inkghsh, tions. Ontario as far as the River de which is separated from it by only "The same general was at the Siege Chouaguin (Oswego River in En- a small sea inlet, half a league long. of Louisbourg with General Wolfe glish), and then followed its course Long Island is thirty leagues long in... June, 1758 (JCB) for htyleagues. This river is hll and four wide. According to the "' Rome, New York. There may of rapids and falls, one of them census 1760, New York had have been a French fort at this site about ten foot high. At the end of twenty-five thousand inhabitants of as early as 1689. the river we came to the fort of diverse nationalities and creeds. Home of Sir William Johnson. Onoyotes, later called Oneidas by The beginning of its building was 'It is hardly necessary to say that this summary of New York's his- the English. A league beyond it, we with wooden cabins in 1609. In errors. entered the lake of the same name. the following year, the Dutch, who tory is hll of Henry Hudson This lake is seven leagues long, and were the first inhabitants, built it visited the Hudson River in 1609. at its end there is a river whose under the name New Belgium. In New Amsterdam, later New York, name I have forgotten, but which 1614, they gave it the name ofNew was founded in 1626 (PHC). has a dam halfway up. Fort Holland. When the Swedes took "' Broadway (PHC). Stan* is located ten leagues be- this city in 1638, they named it New yond. Next is a meadow where Sweden. Retaken by the Dutch in we saw Fort Johnsonh. The Corlac 1766, it resumed the name New River is six leagues farther, and be- Holland. When the English seized yond it is Albany on the Hudson it in 1664, they renamed it New River. There we were put on board Jersey, and later New York, which some small sailboats which took us last name it has retained" to New York, which we reached

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly Letter of Col. Nathan Whiting to His Wife From Fort La Galette (Fort de la Presentation)

Introduction-Written and Re- Ticonderoga, Crown Point, and der and shot that would be used searched by David Dickinson then, in August, 1760, fiom La against Fort Levis. Too, Whiting Colonel Nathan Whiting, of Gallette, the Britishname for Fort was placed in charge of guarding New Haven, Connecticut, com- de la Presentation. Quite possibly Capitaine LaBroquerie and the manded the Second Regiment of much to his dishking, Whiting was crew of the captured French war- Connecticut Provincial troops in left behind at Fort de la Presenta- ship, L 'Outaouaise. We are in- Amherst's my. In 1745 and again tion while the greater part of the debted to Colonel Whiting for the in 1757, he joined expeditions at army moved down river to take letters he wrote to his wife from Louisbourg. An active campaigner positions surrounding Fort Levis. Fort de la Presentation. Not only in the French and Indian Wars and Nevertheless, his assignment was do we receive yet a different per- an officer since 1755, Whiting saw not unimportant. For a time, Colo- spective on the Siege of Fort Le- action in many of the battles around nel Williamson of His Britannic vis but also a rare glimpse at the Lake George and Lake Champlain. Majesty's Royal Artillery used Fort shape and condition of Fort de la Letters to his wife, the former, de la Presentation as the artillery Presentation in the summer of Molly Saltonstall, carry datelines park for the forty-five or more can- 1760. (End of introduction.) from Fort Edward, Lake George, non, howitzers, mortars, gunpow-

This re-enactment by the Ogden Rangers shows a behind the British lines view around the shores and islands of the St. Lawrence River during the Siege of Fort Levis. The soldiers in the 'beaked" hates are British Amy grenadiers, while the fighter in the plaid shirt is an Ogden Ranger.

St. Lmvrence County Hisioricnl Associntion Qunrterly LETTER own Wooster's, Fitch's & the New & Tomahawk, but tis not done yet. Camp at La Gallette Aug 24 1760 York Regiments Who had the Ar- I Imagine the General will attempt My dearest, tillery boats. They have since been it Soon rather than be delayed, the The satisfaction I am persuaded drawn of at different times and for Fort by account of the Prisoners I it will give you to hear fiom me in different services. I remain here have here is Strong, though small, this remote distance adds greatly with my Regiment as a cover to the &being on an Island is difficult to to the pleasure I take in writing to Rear, & thought I should much storm as it must be done in boats; you. I must omit the tender things rather be near the principal Seat of the Garison is about three hundred, my heart is suificiently full of& con- action must content myself, as it commanded by Monsieur fine myself only to the account of seems a Settel'd point for the Pisheauei, who Commanded our situation, whichmy iiiends will Provincials not to share much in the Niagra Last year & seems now all be desirous of knowing as fol- Principal Honor ofthe Action, their determined to Rectify the error he lows. Last Saturday afternoon the Honor Seems confined to their then made of firing away the Arn- advance part of our army came in Alertness & care in promoting & munition too fast, but as he cant sight of the enemy's Fort which is forwarding Such things or matters have reliefwe might easily have the on an Island about four miles be- as the Principal action may depend Fort had we time to loose. I ex- low this one of their vessels a Brig upon-yesterday morning our pect to write you more, before this who was above them fired an alarm. batterys first opened, we have goes, in a Postscript, I hope to give Our army encamped that Night three, two on Islands & one on this an account of taking the Fort & about six miles above here, the shore, which is the East or rather proceeding to Mount Real which Next morning our Row Galleys five South, they Wbriskly all Day with is easily done from here in two in Number, each a twelve pounder Shot & Shells, our vessels also (be- Days. The French go with Single in bow, (our vessels were not then ing three including the one we took) boats in one, the water is very rapid. come up) attacked the French Brig went within Pistol Shot, so that the I have here the Prisoners taken in and soon took her. Then the army Monsieurs had warm work yester- the French Brigii--about eighty in came on to this place & encamped day, two of the vessels had their Number, the Cap Monsieur that Night; The Enemy have some Cables Shot away, & passed by Labroquene I keep at my Table. time deserted this place had taken the Fort & are below. The other He seems to be a discreet modest the Roofs off the Houses but not Struck a rock & there in fair shot; man Should it be his lot to go to Entirely destroyed them, &had hurt a boat I had down yesterday as New Haven, you will Show him the Fort but Little though it Never their return I imagine they saw a Civility. The enclosed Letter to Cap was of much strength being stock- boat go fiom the Fort to the vessel Le Roche you will give to Mr. Le aded only, and a blockhouse at and return, & immediately after saw Mittiere it contains some account each Angle of the square-we two boats go on board her ii-om us of their fiends in Canady. I have found here about eighty of the but thls was seen at a distance & is the happiness to Subscribemyself Sargathe Indians principally women guess. As I have not heard from dearest of women your unalterably & children their men being gone into below to-day I cant tell her situa- Tender and affectionate Husband the woods as they say to see the tion. I don't know the exact num- N Whiting. Event & be out of the way, to these ber of Cannon we have mounted we granted protection. They are at the three batterys so cant assert P.S. 25" Augt 10 oclock A.M. all gone into the woods since to be them-our Batterys keep firing to- Our batterys kept a continual out of the way also. On Monday day but not so briskly as yester- firing of Shells last Night 7 fire the General afterreconnoitingof the day. The weather is very rainy this Briskly this morning they fire very Fort & the passage of the River day; yesterday was clear; I had a Little ii-om the Fort, I have accounts marched the main of ye army in fair view of the Fort and could See that our people in the Snow"'on the their boats and passed the Fort in the Barrackstore, but could not see Rock Struck their Colours without the day time (whose fire hmtheir what other damage it did the of- orders &om Commodore Loring & Cannon did very Little damage to ficer I sent down yesterday told me that the Master and two men go them) and Invested the Fort on the Grenadiers & Light Infantry and into the boat contrary to his orders both sides of the River & on an Is- a detachment of others the whole went to the Fort & resigned them- land below. So that the enemy have about two thousand were in their selves, there was no boat came on no chance succor. boats striped to their shorts Sev- board fiom the French but the ves- eral hours waiting orders to storm. sels boat went to the Fort. The I was left here at first with my Which they were to do with Sword Snow is fast yet, our people taken

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly out, but boats ready to put off im- full grown & very Plump, also der his Command to the British mediately to prevent the Enemy beans & Squashes in so great Troops, the Garison being about from buming her. The Commodore plenty that the army I believe for three hundred are prisoners of War, Mr. Loring has the calf of the Leg Several Days had a pretty good and are to be immediately sent Shot away- Supply & have been quite Re- down to Albany * son on, but a galed-I have the pleasure to tell few have been killed of either Side, P.S. Augt 25 10 oclock at Night you that my Regiment is very healthy as I have not the returns I wont pre- I have intelligence that about five & have wonderfully escaped the tend to tell the number-I had only oclock this afternoon the French Small pock. Several had had it I one killed, he was in a detachment hoisted English Colours on their have lost but two with it & but one on board the French Brig that we Fort, on which the General Sent in with any other disorder that has died took, we shall very Soon proceed Capt Prescot to see what they with the Regiment. I have only one down the River, &hope this suc- wanted. I have heard Nothing herewith the Small pock & he is cess will prove a happy omen of more, but as there has been no fir- recovering tis Eben Hart of Capt Still greater &more important Suc- ing Since I make no doubt the mat- Hitchcock's Company there are cess-a few Days will probably ter is settle I can give no accounts more of the other Regiments but determine the fate of Canady, or of the Numbers lulled or wounded not a Large Number Mr. Alcock the fate, at Least the present fate, either side Should I heard more of Col Woosters Company is here of this Army-the blessings of particulars before an Express gos withthe Small pockandvery Likely Heaven attend you-Adieu my in I shall ad then in a Postscript to to Dye I mention him as his friends dearest yours as above. this. I am as above my years, yours are at New Haven he may possi- N. Whiting. unalterably N Whiting, bly recover but the Doctor tells me tis very precarious. ENDNOTES P.S. 26&9 oclock A.M. P.S. 26h August 11 oclock A.M. ' Pouchot Till I have fhther news hmthe Im now to come to the Last act " refers to L 'Outaouaise Fort, I will fill up my paper with of my Drama which Opens the "' snow - ship, i.e., refers to the other matter-must tell you we Whole Scene. Last Nigh Monsieur Onondaga found many fields of Indian corn Pisheau delivered up the Fort un- Both phmhere courcay of Cpt. Jim Wintm, Ogdm's here just fit for eating. The corn Rangers rmnactm

This member of the Ogden Rangers poses in full unzform garb during a re-enactment of the Siege of Fort Levis. (Photo courtesy of Capt. Jim Winters, Ogden 's Rangers re-enactors)

32 St. Lmvrence County Historical Association Quarterly Siege of Fort Levis: Conclusion Researched and written by David Dickinson

Not until the Jay Treaty of 1796 American history. Many who Endnotes had settled boundary disputes be- fought together for King George at Gertrude Selwyn Kimball, editor. Cor- tween the United States and Fort Levis fought against each other respondence of William Pitt When Sec- retary of State With Colonial Gover- Canada did New Yorkers and at Bunker Hill, on and around Lake nors and Military and Naval Commis- New Englanders return to the up- Champlain and along the Hudson sioners in America. New York: The per St. Lawrence River valley in and Mohawk Rivers. Macmillan Company. 1906. Volume 11, any number. Upon their return, p~.451-452. those settlers who came to the shore Whitehall, July 17", 1761 "Gertrude Selwyn Kirnball, editor. Cor- respondence of William Pitt When Sec- of the St. Lawrence River in the "His Majesty having been gra- retary of State With Colonial Gover- Town of Lisbon looked across the ciously pleased, as a mark of his nors and Military and Naval Commis- water to a small island marked by Royal Approbation of the Many sioners in America. New York: The a protruding stone chimney. The and Eminent Services of Major Macmillan Company. 1906. Volume 11, chimney of Fort Levis gave Chim- General Arnherst, to nominate Him ney Island the name it acquired in to be one of the Knights Compan- Bibliography the early 19fi century and has re- ions of the most Honorable Order Amherst, Jeffery. "Letter to Secretary tained to the present day. of the Bath; and it being necessary of State William Pitt fiom Fort William that He should be invested with the Augustus dated 26 August, 1760". Cor- The documentspresented in this Ensigns of Said Order, which are respondence between Commander-in- Chief and Major-General Monckton issue of the Quarterly far fiom ex- transmitted to Him by this Oppor- and Major-GeneralP. Lyman. Great Brit- haust the extant eye-witness ac- tunity: I am to signify to you the ain: Public Records Office, WO 34/43. counts of the Siege of Fort Levis. King's Pleasure, that you should Dickinson, David L. "The Struggle for Several British officers and colo- perform that Ceremony.. ." Empire". A PictorialHistory of Lisbon, nial soldiers recorded their partici- Secretary of State William Pitt New York. Lisbon, NY: Liston Bi-Cen- tennial Committee, 2001. pp. 10-18. pation in arnilitary campaign they to Lieutenant-Governor Gallup, Andrew, editor. Memoir of a viewed as a monumental event in Cadwallader Colden of New French and Indian War Soldier ... their lives. Colonial newspapers York Province' "Jolicoeur" Charles Bonin. Bowie, covered the campaign with great New York, Aug. 11 fi, 1 76 1 MD: Heritage Books, 1993. pp. 183-188. interest. The fall of Fort Levis and "Onthe 7" instant I received the Kimball, Gertrude Selwyn, editor. Cor- respondence of William Pitt When Sec- the subsequent surrender of honour ofhis majesty's Comrnis- retary of State With Colonial Gover- Montreal, after all, marked the end sion appointing me Lieutenant-Gov- nors and Military and Naval Commis- of decades of bitter fighting be- ernor of the Province of New sioners in America. New York: tween France and England for con- York. ..In April last the Assembly Macmillan Company, 1906. trol of eastern North America. Not made provision for raising 1787 Pouchot, Pierre. Memoirs on the Late War in North America Between France only do the spoils ofwar belong to men, being two thirds of what they andEngland. Trans. by Michael Cardy. the victor, but also the propensity had raised formerly, before the Edited and annotated by Brian Leigh to boast of victories.. .and to for- Conquest of Canada. They were Dunnigan. Youngstown, NY: Old Fort get defeats at the hands of a skilled fighting, before that tirne,pro Aris Niagara Association, 1994. and vastly outnumbered foe. How- & focis. Now they think them- Welles, Lemuel Aiken, editor. "Letters of Colonel Nathan Whiting Written ever, the celebrations of a victori- selves under no such Necessity to from Camp During the French and In- ous England and her American load the Province with so great an dian War". Papers of the New Haven colonies came to a fractious end. Expense, and it was with some dif- Colony Historical Society. VI (1900), Britain's attempts to rule a former ficultythey were induced to com- p~.133-150. colony of France and to spread the ply Mywiththe King's requisitionyy Woodhull, Nathaniel. "A Journal Kept costs ofwar evenly over those who Lieutenant-Governor by Nathaniel Woodhull". The Histori- benefited most from its success Cadwallader Colden of New cal Magazine and Notes and Queries soon ran amuck. Growing discord York Province to Secretary of Concerning the Antiquities, History, and the resultant outbreak of revo- State William Pitr' and Biography ofAmerica. Volume V, lution thrust the victory at Fort Le- September, 1861. pp. 257-260. vis into a back closet of Anglo-

St. Lawrence Counry Historical Associntion Qunrterly Edith Duffy, Former Edwards Town and Village Historian

Edith C. DuffL, 80, died Janu- ary 24,2002 at the Edward John Noble Hospital in Gouverneur. Mrs. -was the Edwards tax collector and then was an account- ing clerk for the St. Lawrence County Department of Social Ser- vices for 20 years. A lifelong resident of Edwards, she was a member of the Histori- cal Society and was town and vil- lage historian hm1983 until Dec. 3 1.2001. She was also a charter member of the Edwards Fire De- partment Auxiliary and a member of the library board. She enjoyed genealogy, sewing, kmtting, paint- ing and traveling. This picture was taken while Edith was on a Mrs. DufQ was born Sept. 11, cruise to Alaska in 1998. She is ready to 1921 in Edwards, the daughter of attend the captain S dinner. William and Mertie Grant Cleland. She attended Edwards schools, mxived a high school diploma, and attended Watertown School of Commerce. She married Thomas L. DufQ on Feb. 23, 1942 at her parents' home in Edwards. Mr. DuffL pre- deceased his wife onNov. 1,1997. Mrs. Durn is survived by a son and daughter-in-law, Michael T. and Celene ofEdwards; two daughters, Mrs. David (Judith) Schoolcraft of Syracuse, and Mrs. Martin (Kathleen) Duffy-Reed of Baldwinsville; a brother, William Cleland of Edwards; nine grand- children and three great-grand- daughters. she was predeceased by a son, Edith on her 8Qhbirthday on Sept. 11, 2001 while in the E.J. Noble Patrick, in 1982; a brother, Ives Hospital, Gouverneur. She is with her son, Michael, and his daughter, Cleland; and a grandson. Celeste. Michael's wife, Celene, took the picture.

34 St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly Edith Duffy Steps Down as Edwards Historian After years of Dedicated Service By Laverne H. Freeman

On January 4, 1983 Edith Scots Festival held on August 14, Cleland Duewas appointed the 1998. third Edwards Town and Village Historian. She accepted the ofice As historian, she was always of Leah Noble, long-time historian willing to open the history center at until her death in December 1982. the convenience of those interested in visiting the center, and to answer Mrs. Duffy, a lifelong resident phone and written requests for in- of Edwards, and husband Tom, formation. If she didn't know the raised two sons and two daughters answer herself, she made the effort while participating in community to call upon other knowledgeable activities. After becoming historian, residents to get the requested in- she continued Miss Noble's efforts formation. to make the history center in the town hall a place where visitors Mrs. Duf@ continued her inter- were welcome to browse the ma- est in local hlstory and genealogy terials and artifacts to learn, or re- until her health prevented her par- call, Edwards in by-gone days. ticipation. At this time she resigned her position as historian effective Mrs. Duf@believed in the state December 3 1,2001, after 18 years ment, "many hands make light of passing her knowledge of work" and appointed Katheryn Edwards and its people to others Fuller to help her as deputy histo- in many parts of the world. Her rian. Then under a work program, presence will be missed by all. she was able to have the excellent help of Lisa Clintsrnan and Michelle Hale to reorganize the center after the town upgraded the electrical system and had the room freshly painted. She mentioned many times how much she appre- ciated the services of these ladies. After Mrs. Fuller's resignation, Mrs. Duffy appointed Laverne H. Freeman as deputy historian. During her early tenure, Mrs. Durn was involved with ahistori- cal group that wrote their early memories of life in Edwards of yes- teryear and inthewed senior citi- zens to get their stories on audio tapes. Since December 1998 she has also been president of the revi- talized historical association and was co-chairman of the successful

St. Lawrence County Historical Association Quarterly Edith Duffy, Good Friend and Neighbor By Laverne Freeman, Town and Village of Edwards Historian Edith was the only girl in her fam- to extract the cyst. She was in the Her future husband, Thomas ily with two older brothers, and said hospital a number of months and Duffy, also was a student in she grew up determined to do ev- she was one of the first people in Edwards School. She and Tom erything the boys did in spite of the area given the sulfa drug to com- dated in high school and she mar- them, so she declared herself a bat infection. ried her hgh school sweetheart on "tomboy." To make sure she did February 23,1942 before he left not miss anythmg her brothers were The high school principal, Harry to serve in the Army Air Corps in doing, she and her ji-iends, Marjorie Brown, consulted with her and her in WWII. After a while, Hansen and Lucille Gore, watched mother to have her be allowed to Edith came back to live in her them from a hill or comer when- take her regents and graduate with hometown with her mother and ever possible. They dubbed them- her class. She was at home by then brother, Bill. Her first child, Judy, selves "Sniff," "Snoop" and ''Peek" and a teacher came over from the was born in the North Country the "de-tec-uh-tives." school to supervise the testing. while her husband was in the ser- Edith passed all her exams. When vice. It is certainly true that she was it was time for the class to climb to the apple of her father's eye as the school stage, a big, husky class- After the war, Edith and Tom shown by the story told of the day mate carried her to the stage and settled in Edwards where he when she was possibly three- or placed her in her seat. Later in the worked in the mines and she be- four-years-old. She bemoaned all ceremony this same boy fainted! came the tax collector. (She later morning to her mother that, "Bob Edith recalled she looked down at worked for the County in Canton.) has a Kiddie Kar and I don't have him and remarked, '? think Ishould Their family expanded to four chil- a Kiddie Kar." Mrs. Cleland re- have carried you to the stage!" dren with the addition of Michael, lated this "sad tale" to her husband Patrick and Kathleen. The couple when he came in for lunch - and Because of her health, Edith lived with their fiends and family doting Daddy promptly went could not attend a higher educa- around them, so they enjoyed a straight to the store and bought his tion program after high school, so well-rounded family and social life. little girl a Kiddie Kar! she had to wait until the following fall when she entered Watertown Even with all her many activi- Edith spent all her public school School of Commerce. She gradu- ties, Edith felt she must have her years in the Edwards School sys- ated from the business school and pets and was fondly known by her tem, beginning in the first grade in used her education throughout her family as "the Cat Woman." Her the school on Main Street, where working years. halhousehold pets were two large, the Assembly of God church is now. domestic, short hair cats - an or- She then went to the "new" brick One of her summer jobs while ange tiger named Sunny, and a school when it opened in the fall of in school was working in Dr. mostly black, tortoise shell named 1936 and graduated in June 1939. Adams' office doing clerical work. Sadie. They were the light of her His typewriter was not working life and she felt they added "life to All through Edith's childhood properly and when Dr. Adams her house and kept it from being she had a pudgy tummy, but the came in one day Edith had it all too quiet." She Wed a lot of'life in doctors ignored it until she was a apart and spread out across the her house9'withfamily and fiends. senior in high school. During the desk. The doctor bent over her, early part of the spring semester she looked at the array of parts, shook had to have an extremely serious his head, shrugged his shoulders, operation to remove a large six and commented, "Another of those pound cyst in her abdominal area, Clelands!" (They were all mechani- necessitating the permanent re- cally inclined.) moval of some of her ribs in order

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