Andrew Douglass, wounded. Of the Rev. Captain Steel's(1) Company -Terrence Canuaberry, missing. Total: killed, seventeen; wounded, thirteen; missing, nineteen.

A list of English prisoners retaken from the Indians at Kittanning.Ann McCord, wife of John McCord, taken at McCord's Fort in Conogocheague; Martha Thorn, about seven years old, taken at the same place; Barbara Hicks, taken at Conollaways; Catherine Smith, a German child, taken near Shamokin; Margaret Hood, taken near the mouth of Conogocheague, in Maryland; Thomas Girty, taken at Fort Granville; Sarah Kelly, taken near, Winchester, in Virginia; besides one woman and a boy, and two little girls, who, with Captain Mercer and Ensign Scott, separated from the main body, as we began our march from Kittanning, who are not yet come in.

For the signal success of Colonel John Armstrong, in reducing Kittanning, the Corporation of the City of Philadelpl.ia, voted him and his gallant officers their thanks, and conferred upon them other favors, as may be seen from the following extracts, from the minutes of the Common Council:

October 5, 1756-It being proposed that this Board should give some public testimony of their regard and esteem for Col. John Armstrong and the other officers concerned in the late expedition against the Indians at Kittanning, and the courage and conduct shown by them on that occasion, and also contribute to the relief of the widows and children of those who lost their lives in that expedition. Resolved, That this board will give the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds out of their stock in the Treasurer's hands, to be paid out in pieces of plate, swords, or other things suitable for presents to the said officers and towards the relief of the said widows and children.

(1) During the French and Indian wars, the times were such, in the Pennsylvania, especially along the Frontier settlements, that the services of all who could shoulder a gun, or handle a defensive weapon, were demanded. Clergymen of several denominations had accepted of commissions, while others, from their pulpits, animated the people to manfully resist the hostile foe. The Rev'd Steel, of Cumberland, the Rev'd Elder, of Lancaster (now Dauphin), the Rev'd John Conrad Bucher, grandfather of Judge Bucher, of Harrisburg; the first-named was a captain, and two last colonels; during this war, Rev'd Richard Peters, of Philadelphia, and Rev'd Barton, of York county. Episcopal Clergymen, were alike active in the service of their country. The Rev'd Peters, writing from Philadelphia, May 3d, 1758, to Mr. Stevenson, of York, says: "The Ministers should be desired, in different and proper parts of the country, and at proper distances, as their congregations may be seated, to appoint meetings, and animate the people to raise levees with all possible dispatch." Stevenson, in answer to Mr. Peters, writes, York, May 21st: "The Rev'd Craddock gave me the pleasure of a visit, and preached an excellent war sermon from Lishy's pulpit, on Friday last, in the hearing of the Rev'd Barton, Bay and Lishy; he went with Mr. Barton yesterday; and is to deliver another sermon to the same purpose to-day, from Mr. Barton's pulpit.” 9

The following is a description of the medal sent to Col. Armstrong: Occasion. In honor of the late Colonel Armstrong of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, for destroying Kittanning Indian towns.

Device. An officer followed by two soldiers: the officer pointing to a soldier shooting from behind a tree, and an Indian prostrate before him. In the back ground, Indian houses are seen in flames.

Legend. Kittanning destroyed by Colonel Armstrong, September,

1758.

Reverse. Device-The arms of the Corporation of Philadelphia. These consisted of four devices; on the right hand a ship under full sail on the left, a pair of scales, equally balanced in the right, above the ship, a wheat sheaf: in the left, two hands locked.

Legend. The gift of the Corporation of the City of Philadelphia.

TO COLONEL JOHN ARMSTRONG. SIR :-The corporation of the city of Philadelphia greatly approve of your conduct and public spirit in th late expedition against the town of Kittanning, and are highly pleased with the signal proofs of courage and personal bravery given by you, and the officers under your command, in demolishing of that place. I am therefore ordered to return you and them the thanks of the board for the eminent service you have thereby done your country. I am also ordered by the corporation to present you, out of their small public stock, with a piece of plate and silver medal, and each of your officers with a medal and a small sum of money to be disposed of in the manner most agreeable to them; which the board desire you will accept as a testimony of the regard they have for your merit. Signed by order,

January 5, 1757. ATTWOOD SHUTE, Mayor. To the Mayor, Recorder, Aldermen, and Common Council of the Corporation of the City of Philadelphia.

Gentlemen-Your favor of the 5th instant, together with the medals and other genteel presents made to the officers of my battallion by the Corporation of the city of Philadelphia, I had the pleasure to receive by Capt. George Armstrong.

The

The officers employed in the Kittanning expedition, have been made acquainted with the distinguished honor you have done them, and desire to join with me in acknowledging it in the most public manner. kind acceptance of our past services by the Corporation, gives us the highest pleasure and furnishes a fresh motive for exerting ourselves on every future occasion for the benefit of his Majesty's service in general,

and in defence of this province in particular. In behalf of the officers of my battallion, I have the honor to be, gentlemen,

Your most obedient and obliged humble servant,

Carlisle, January 24, 1757.

JOHN ARMSTRONG.

The destruction of this town and its inhabitants, was a severe stroke on the Indians. This was the first attempt to assail them in their own towns, and they had hitherto fancied themselves perfectly secure from the approach of the inhabitants on this side of the mountains. Though goaded on by the French, and impelled by a thirst of vengeance to retaliate the fatal blow inflicted upon their "flesh and blood," they would not venture, for some time, to leave their wigwams en masse to assault the frontier settlements, lest they might again meet with a signal overthrow. Such of them as belonged to Kittanning and had escaped the carnage, refused to settle again on the east of Fort Du Quesne, and very wisely resolved to place that fortress and the French garrison between them and the English.(1)

CHAPTER VII.

THE DESPONDENCY OF THE COLONIES IN THE BEGINNING OF 1758-THE CHANGE IN THE BRITISH MINISTRY, AND THE APPOINTMENT OF WILLIAM PITT AS PRIME MINISTER-HIS CHARACTER, ENERGY AND WISDOM, IN THE DEFENCE OF THE COLONIES-THE ZEAL OF PENNSYLVANIA TO AID THE MINISTERTHE ASSEMBLING OF 50,000 MEN IN AMERICA-THE PLAN OF THE CAMPAIGNTHE ARRIVAL OF GENERAL FORBFS, AT PHILADELPHIA, AT THE HEAD OF 1,200 ROYAL TROOPS, TO CO-OPERATE WITH 6,000 PROVINCIALS IN AN EXPEDITION AGAINST FORT DUQUESNE-THE ASSEMBLING OF THE PROVINCIALS AT BEDFORD AND FORT CUMBERLAND-THE PROGRESS OF GEN. FORBES TO LOYALHANNA-MAJOR GRANT'S URFORTUNATE ATTEMPT UPON FORT DUQUESNETHE ATTACK OF THE FRENCH UPON COL. BOUQUET, AT LOYALHANNA, AND THEIR DEFEAT- THE EVACUATION OF THE FORT, AT THE APPROACH OF GEN. FORBES- THE GLORIOUS TERMINATION OF THE CAMPAIGN.

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At the close of the campaign of 1757, great despondency and gloom hung over the prospects of the English in America. During the years 1755, 1756, and 1757, a series of defeats had followed in succession, until despondency had seized upon the public mind. (2) By the capture of Fort William Henry, on Lake George, by the Marquis de Montcalm, the French obtained complete possession of the best passage from Canada into the British provinces, through Lake Champlain. By the (1) Gordon's His. Pa., 345.

2) Lord Chesterfield, at this time exclaimed-" I never saw so dreadful a

destruction of Oswego they had the control of the Great Lakes; and by their possession of Fort Du Quesne, they maintained their ascendancy over the Western Indians, and held control of all the country west of the Allegheny mountains. (1)

At length the creation of a new ministry in England, at the head of which was placed WILLIAM PITT, afterwards the Earl of Chatham, produced an immediate change in the aspect of affairs. Public confidence revived, and the nation seemed inspired with new life and vigor.

In June, 1757, Mr. Pitt was created Premier of England, and in a very short time showed that in him were combined, in an extraordinary manner, qualities seldom united in one person. His eloquence was of of the highest order, and its effect, both in and out of Parliament, was conviction. His appeals to the patriotism of the British people, to protect the colonies from the power of France, and from the tomahawk of the savage, thrilled through the nation. But his talents for action, seemed even to eclipse those in debate, and in directing the most difficult and complicated movements of war, on the ocean and the land, over every quarter of the world, he evinced a vigor of mind, a clearness of judgment, and a decision of character, beyond the expectations of his admirers. His plans, partaking of the proud character of his own mind, and the exalted opinion he entertained of his countrymen, were always grand; and the means he employed for their execution, were always adequate to the object. Possessing without limit, the public confidence, he commanded all the resources of the nation, and drawing liberally from the public treasury, the funds were always faithfully applied to the advancement of the public service. Too great in his spirit, too sublime in his views, to become the instrument of faction, when placed at the head of the nation, he regarded only the interests of the whole people, and overlooking the country or the party which had given birth to merit, he searched only for worth, and employed it whenever it could be found.

The letters of Mr. Pitt to the colonies, were well adapted to produce union, energy, and action in the provinces of Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and the Carolinas. They were told that England would soon send to their assistance a powerful army, to act in concert with the provincial troops. That their combined forces should be applied to remove the enemy from the western frontriers, and that the government, unwilling to limit their exertions, would leave to each colony to raise, with the greatest possible dispatch, as large a force as was in its power. To render such force efficient, Mr. Pitt recommended to the several Gover

nors to commission popular men for officers, and in bestowing military appointments, to have regard solely to the public service. (1) The Governors were authorized to issue commissions to the provincial officers from Colonels downwards, and these officers were to hold rank in the colonial army according to the date of their commissions. He stipulated that the colonial troops raised for the campaign, should be supplied with arms, ammunition, tents and provisions, in the same manner as the regular troops, and at the King's expense; so that the only charge to the colonies, would be that of levying cloathing, and paying their own men. (2)

Animated by hope, and cheered by the liberal policy of Mr. Pitt, the Assembly of Pennsylvania instantly resolved to place at the disposition of the English commanders, two thousand seven hundred men. The colonies were no longer to be degraded, but their troops were to be commanded by their own officers, taking rank with those of the regular army To encourage enlistment, the Assembly voted a bounty of five pounds to every soldier enlisting, and one pound to the recruiting officer; and earnestly recommended the Governor to pursue the advice of Mr. Pitt in the selection of officers, and to do every thing in his power to have the forces ready by the month of May, as required by the minister. The members, in their zeal to advance the public service, voted ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDS-prepared quarters for the troops, and wagons for their baggage-put the roads in repair, and raised and equipped a body of light horse. (3)

The liberal policy of the new ministry had a similar effect upon other colonies. Virginia raised and sent into the field sixteen hundred men, under the command of Col. Washington, and raised money to clothe and pay them. (4) The Assembly of Maryland also voted to raise a thousand troops, but their bill was defeated by the royal Governor, who refused his assent to the mode of levying the tax to defray the expense. (5)

Early in the Spring of 1758, Admiral Boscawen arrived at Halifax, with a formidable fleet of one hundred and fifty sail, having on board about twelve thousand British troops, under the command of General Amherst, who was second in command to General Abercrombie, who previously superceded Lord Loudon as Commander-in-chief in America.

(1) Gordon's History of Pennsylvania, p. 361. (2) Sparks' Washington, Vol. II. p. 289.

(3) Gordon's History of Pennsylvania, p. 363.

(5) Votes and proceedings of Maryland Assembly, for March 1758.