GEORGE CLARK.
A bill covering the above passed the assem bly 10 1740, and Colonels Morris and Philipse carried the same to the council for its concurrence. It was passed by the council 11 July and signed by the lieutenant-governor 12 July.
1744-48. Third Intercolonial War: King George's War.— On 13 May 1744, Governor Duquesne! of Cape Breton captured an English settlement on the island of Canso, near Nova Scotia; destroyed the fort, removing all pris oners to Louisburg; but was unsuccessful in an attempt against Annapolis, N. S., and Placen tia, N. F. New England colonists declared war on Nova Scotia Idians, who attacked Annapolis and planned the capture of Louis burg. Men, money and supplies were con tributed by Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Hampshire, but the chief burden was imposed on Massachusetts. Command of the forces (some 4,000 men) was given to William Pep perell, who left Boston in April 1745, Commo dore Warren, commanding in the West Indies, furnishing ships of convoy. Five assaults were made on an island battery protecting the harbor before the French surrendered, 17 June. For this success Pepperell was made a baronet. An expedition the following year proved unsuc cessful and Louisburg was returned to the French by the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, 7 Oct. 1748.
1754. Great Meadows.— In December 1753 George Washington carried a request from Governor Dinwiddie of Virginia to the French commander of Forts Venango (confluence of French Creek and Allegheny River, now Frank lin, Pa.) and Le Bceuf (west folk of French Creek, now Waterford, Pa.) that he retire from territory claimed by the English; request was refused. Governor Dinwiddie then ordered a fort constructed at the forks of the Ohio, and while work was in progress the French appeared and the English retired. A regiment organized under Col. Joshua Fry, with Washington second in command, pushed on with 150 men. On 28 May 1754, when near Great Meadows, the French were met in a glen. In ensuing hostilities the French commander, Jumonville, was killed and those under him captured. Washington retired to Great Meadows and threw up entrenchments, awaiting Colonel Fry's force, which finally ar rived. Colonel Fry had died suddenly. Wash ington made a second advance, which proved ineffectual against a French force of 700, and he retired with the honors of war, 3 July 1754.
The same month Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Penn and others assembled at Albany by request of the °Lords of (a standing committee of England's privy council), hoping to make an agreement with the chiefs of the Six Nations for protection in the event of further hostilities with France. Franklin's plan was unanimously approved at this congress, but the several assemblies failed to ratify it.
Had his plan been adopted, it is said, the sev eral colonies would have been united and strong enough to withstand attacks from enemies without England's assistance and the later pre tense for unjust taxation. Thus the Revolu tionary struggle might have been averted.
1755-63. Seven Years' War: French and Indian Wars: Braddock's Defeat— The Eng lish government, in 1755, placed General Brad dock over a force intended to drive the French from the Ohio Valley. Washington was on his staff. Braddock planned the capture of Fort DuQuesne, at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers. Untrained in methods of frontier warfare, having seen no enemy on his tedious march (2 April to 9 July), Braddock scoffed at the employment of scouts as he ap proached the immediate vicinity of the enemy, with the result that when his command was at tacked it was completely defeated, half his 1,600 men killed or wounded and he himself died from a wound received in the onslaught. His papers were captured by the French, who found therein all the English plans.
1755. Battle of Lake George.—At a coun cil of war, called by General Johnson at early morning 8 Sept 1755, it was proposed to send 500 men to Fort Edward. The noted Indian King Hendrick, when consulted about this num ber, said: uIf they are to fight they are too few; if to be killed, they are too many?) The force was doubled. Johnson then proposed di viding it into three parties. Hendnck took several arrows, handed one of them to Johnson, requesting that he break it, which the general did; Hendrick then placed three arrows in the general's hand, saying: 'Tut them together and you can't break them; take thcm one by one and you will break them easily? This argtunent was conclusive. Col. Ephraim Williams led; Lieutenant-Colonel Whiting had the second di vision; King Hendrick? with 250 Mohawks, was in advance of the Provincials. Rocky Brook was reached; here the enemy was in ambush; but for friendly warning from Senecas, the troops would have perished. Colonel Williams and King Hendrick lost their lives; General Johnson was wounded; Lieutenant-Colonel Whiting con ducted a successful retreat, followed by the French and Indian allies. Lieutenant-Colonel Cole, with 300 men, came from Lake George; a brilliant dash was made on the enemy, driving them and capturing Baron Dieskau. Colonel Blanchard advanced from Fort Ed ward, where the firing had been heard, with 250 men ; discovered 300 Indians resting at Rocicy Point; slew most of them. Among 500 lost by the French was Le Gardeur de Saint Pierre, whom Washington had met the yeas before at Great Meadows.