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rather more numerous after the arrival of the Boston Militia than before. We are disappointed of the Recruits, which were intended to be sent from the West Indies to join us, and as several Regiments are much weaker, than they were thought (in England) to be, I must beg further to represent to you, that good Troops only can make amends for the want of Numbers, in an undertaking of this sort, it is therefore my duty to signify to you, that it would be much for the publick service to let the other two companies of Light Infantry, embark with the Army under my Command, upon Condition of being replaced Man for Man by some of the Rangers and some of Frazer's additional Companies, who are not so proper for the field, tho' very sufficient for the Defence of a fortified place. If there was any reason to apprehend that this change might have the least ill consequence I should not venture to propose it. Mr. Lawrence who has a very bad Fortress and a very weak Garrison, accepted of the sick and recovering men of the two American battalions as part of the 500 Regulars intended for the defence of Nova Scotia, knowing very well, that upon the success of our attacks in Canada the security of the whole continent of America in a great measure depends.

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I have the Honor of yours of this date, wherein you acquaint me, that in the distribution of forces for the Invasion of Canada, it was regulated that Braggs Regiment, three Companies of Grenadiers and one Company of Light Infantry besides the Rangers should be taken from Louisbourg.

By His Majesty's Instructions to me, I am to obey the orders, I shall receive from Major Genl. Amherst or the Commander in Chief of His Majesty's Forces in Nt. America.

I have not as yet received any orders from Major Genl. Amherst to detach a company of Light Infantry from this Garrison.

Bragg's Regiment, three Companies of Grenadiers and all the Rangers are ordered to embark when you see fit.

Major Genl. Wolfe

I have the honor to be &c.

ED. WHITMORE

Endorsed Copy of M. G. Wolfe's letter to Govr. Whitmore & his answer, concerning the Light Infantry.

May 1759,

in Genl. Wolfe's of 6, June 1759

Lt. Governor Hutchinson to Wolfe.

Boston 24 May 1759.

Sir

I have just received a letter from General Amherst desiring that 300 men might be added to the Louisburgh detachment from the Forces raised in this Province provided they can embark without any delay. I intend they shall be on board the Transports in 48 hours which is as soon as it is possible for them to march to this Town from the places where they now are. I think it necessary Sir, to give you immediate advice that if the Service required your sailing before they could arrive & you should think proper to take the same number of men from the Garrison at Louisburgh you might be assured nothing but the accidents of the Sea can prevent their place being supplied. You will excuse Sir my suggestions to you that it might be advisable to order this detachment without mentioning the particular Service for which they are designed until they are embarked, as you will have it equally in your power to employ them in it afterwards as if they had enlisted specially for that service,

The Governor Mr. Pownall has been absent at Pembrook near a month past. I expect his return in a few days.

I am with great respect and esteem Sir
Your most obedt. humble Servant

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I wrote to you a short Letter on my taking possession of Tienderoga, which may perhaps be a great while getting to you; Till now I could not get any strait conveyance and the Route, tho' not sure at present may be attempted, and I hope this will be delivered to you safe by Bearer, an Ensign in the Rangers-I arrived here the 4th, at night and a very welcome messenger overtook me in the night with the news that Niagara Surrendred to His Majesty's Arms the 25th. of last month, the Garrison consisting of 600 Men Prisoners of War; on the 24th. a Detachment of 1200 of the Enemy commanded by Messrs Aubry & Delignery, collected from Detroit, Venango, Presqu'Isle and every place they had, made an attempt to raise the Siege; The Indians gave intelligence of this; Every thing was prepared, & at time the Firing began, and they were so well received by the Troops that were posted, and the Indians in their Flank that in an hour the whole was compleatly Routed, all their Officers made Prisoners, amongst whom are, Messrs. Aubry, Delignery, Marin, Repentigni & 13 more, great numbers killed and a compleat Victory-Not a Prisoner hurt by our Men, had the French had the Victory, I suppose not one had escaped of ours, for I hear a Boat had fallen in the way of the Enemy that morning wherein were ten of the Light Infantry, whose heads were cut off by the above Prisoners and their army, & their Bodys mangled according to French custom-One

would have thought it would have been difficult after this to have stopt the men from following the example, but I am assured they did not hurt a man, that was a Prisoner, & their behaviour on that day & during the Siege, was with the utmost chearfulness & bravery; Sir William Johnson commends them much, and laments the loss of poor Brigr. General Prideaux, who was shot accidentally by one of our own Gunners on the 20th. when the Trenches were within 140 yards of the place. -I have almost repaired Tienderoga and made it better than it was; The Enemy thought to have destroyed it entirely, but they failed in their attempt, and they were very good in not forcing me to demolish it, which I should have done in a few hours, from the time they made their escapes & tried to blow it up ;-The loss of poor Col. Townshend marr'd the Enjoyment I should otherwise have had in the Reduction of the Place; One Ensign & sixteen men killed & fifty seven wounded, are all the Losses this Army has sustained-Brigr. Genl. Stanwix has by this a Champ Libre, he may do what he will-My brother who is gone to England wt. the news I had fixed poor Townshend should go with, has taken away my Cypher for Col. Williamson, which is a loss to me, as I purposed, to write to you by that. I want to hear from you.-You may depend upon my doing all I can for effectually Reducing Canada-Now is the time

I am with great Truth & Regard

Major General Wolfe

Dear Sir &c.

JEFF. AMHERST

Endorsed By Ensign Hutchins of the Rangers, by Kennebeck River. Informing him of the Surrender of Niagara, and the present situation of affairs here in Amhersts to Pitt of Oct. 22d. 1759.

Dear Wolfe

Amherst to Wolfe.

Camp of Crown Point August 29. 1759.

As I am sending away an officer to Louisburg this may perhaps meet with a Conveyance from thence. I hope Capt. Kennedy will have

arrived safe to you; Since his departure nothing material has happened here except a Letter from Monsieur de Montcalm a Copy of which with my answer I send you Enclosed, and I think myself much oblidged to him as 'tis the only Intelligence I have Received of you, except a Letter just now from Brigr. General Whitmore by a Letter he got from Your Army the 11th. of July.

My Last news of Brigr. General Gage is from Fort Stanwix, but Letters to officers here mention his being at Oswego. Brigr. Genl. Stanwix getting forward as fast as Provisions will let him he detached the 30th July 300 men under the command of Major Tullikens from Bedford to Pittsburgh to proceed to Venango and so on to relieve the Garrison of Niagara, there is nothing now to hinder the Detachments intended for that Garrison to proceed; I have taken care they shall have a sufficiency of provisions there. Poor Capt. Jocelyne was killed on the same day, at the Laurel Hill by some Indians who attacked a convoy and were soon Routed by Capt. Jocelyne who was unfortunately shot through the body at the latter end; two Indians found dead, eight more supposed to be dead or wounded, We lost three men and six Horses, this is in all likelihood the last party that will interrupt that communication.

I have a Brigantine and some Boats preparing in all haste pour chasser quatres vaisseaux Francois that have posted themselves on the Lake and are commanded by a Monsieur de le bras ten Guns each.

As you will be thoroughly Informed of my Intentions by Capt. Kennedy I have nothing more at present to add, I hope in a few days to see him back again and to hear that you are well and that you have all the Success you Deserve.

I am with the greatest truth & regard

Dear Wolfe &c.

JEFF. AMHERST.

General Wolfe

Endorsed By an Officer going to Louisbourg; further Intelligence of his Situation, with the Copy of Mr. Montcalm's Letter of 30th July.

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