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Robert Treat Paine Papers

Robert Treat Paine Papers, Volume 1

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From Sylvanus Conant

21 November 1755

To Thomas Paine

2 January 1756
Reasons for Discontinuing the Expedition Against Crown Point
RTP
Camp at Lake George, Nov. 25?, 1755

Reasons1 why tis not thought adviseable to proceed this fall agt. Crown Point or Ticconderogo.

1 With regard to Warlike Stores, great part of the shot & Shells are at Fort Edward

1 Because the season of Year is so far advanc'd as that before we can possibly get ready the Lake will be impassable. 1 For the first we must have weeks provisions upon this spot before the soldiers can have heart to go forwards or their Leaders Grounds to desire it. 2dly Because a great part of our shot & shells are at Fort Edward, to transport wch. will likewise consume much Time. 3 Because the bigger part of our Battoes are likewise there we having but here in poor Repair & only one Scow near done & one half done which will consume much time to remove. So that we apprehend before we can any ways be prepar'd for the Expedition the Lake will either be froze, & cause as much more Time to be spent in projecting new Methods, or else twill be at the point of freezing & perhaps the Army gets froze up in the midst of it, the consequences of which need no discription. Moreover, frequent observations shows us that when the wind blows at North at this Time of the year our largest Scows would not live with any Artillery in them, so that 3 hours wind such as we now often have would defeat the whole design, besides the Loss. 2 Because Our Army is in a bad condition for such an Enterprise. 1 There are sick & unfit for Duty & that are fit & of them nos. must stay to keep this Camp & tend the Sick, the remainder we think no ways Sufficient for the thing. 2 Those are healthy eno' for Duty are in no shape sufficiently cloath'd for a Winter Campain as we can but expect this to be, they having but one Blankett a peice & but thin wearing apparell336wch. we think not Sufficient for the only defence to be openly Expos'd to a cold Winters Night. 3 The Spirits of the People are not only Sunk, but much ruffled, they have been kept in a half Starv'd Condition so long, that their Minds are resolutely set upon home, & whatever might be their Obedience to Authority, it cant be thought that three of them would be equall to one willing man, especially if a heavy Snow should bury them & cut off the Supply of Provisions. 3 Because we see no benefit in proceeding even tho we could expect Success. 1 We cant get to Crown Point without taking Tenondoquo. they have a strong Fortress & as many men as we, if we take that and proceed no further a large Army must be mentain'd all Winter. 2 If we proceed on & take Crown Point also an equall Army must be kept there, the charge & Difficulty of Supplying wch. we imagine greater than to form a new Expedition, and furthermore tis the most Disadvantageous Time because the French have now if ever full supply of Provisions &c. &c.

So that upon the whole we think it best not to proceed, because we have not got Provisions, & some other stores here nor can have seasonably. Nor yet have we conveyance enough nor of a Suteble Sort, nor yet Men eno, nor our Men spirits eno nor cloathing enough, nor yet Time eno' to provide for the Mentaining the Conquests.

MS ; endorsed: "Reasons abt. &c Crown Point."

1.

A council of commissioners representing Massachusetts Bay, Connecticut, and New York met at Albany on Nov. 17, 1755 to discuss the campaign against Crown Point. It was agreed that Sir William Johnson's forces should move against the enemy and try to push them back "as far as they are able this season." The commissioners, proceeding to the camp at Lake George, where they arrived on Nov. 24, found the condition of the colonial troops to be such that they decided to break off the campaign for the year. The manuscript printed above is in RTP's hand and may be a copy of the "Reasons" presented to the commissioners and accepted by them. On Nov. 25, RTP notes in his diary that the commissioners "agreed to draw off the Forces," leaving certain housekeeping units at Fort William Henry and Fort Edward; see Lawrence Henry Gipson, The British Empire Before the American Revolution, 15 vols. (Caldwell, Idaho, and New York, 1936–1970), 6:176