PAPERS RELATING TO PORT STANWIX.
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And having since been advised, instead of that Post or Fort , to build one more extensive, pursu-ant to a Plan laid before me, I have accordingly sent that plan to L 4 Williams now at Albany withdirections if his health should Permit him to undertake the same, immediately to join you and setabout it; my Reason for sending L 4 Williams is that he is acquainted w h that part of the Country,and accustomed to the method of Working in it; besides from Capt. Green’s Bad state of health,and the Difficultys he started to the former Plan, w ch was not near so extensive as it is morally certainhe would not execute it within proper time which as I observe before would be doing nothingat all; Wherefore, upon L 4 Williams arrival, you will allow Cap 4 Green to return to Albany, for thesake of his health, from whence he may forward every thing that may be wanted either your wayor up the Hudsons River and as L 4 Sowers is Williams’s senior, he may take a Trip w 4 L 4 Coll°Bradstreet, as from his knowledge of the country beyond the Carry s Place, he may be of service,and after that enterprize terminates, you can employ Him in putting in Repair the little fortsBelow, for the Reception of the troops in Winter ; this is done to prevent any Interfering inCommand
I am
Camp at Lake George July 27 th 1758
COLLO. MONTRESORE’S ANSWER TO CAPT. GREEN’S OBSERVATIONS.
The orders for building a Post or Fort at Oneida Carrying Place were so plain that they didnot seem to want any Explanations, except in the Scituation, w ch not being exactly known the figureof Course is subjected by it, and tho’ called a square, has often its four sides unequall, and as partmay be unattainable by a swamp, morass &ca. that side has a Parapet and Rampart less strong thanthe others and without a Ditch, all those alterations and changes are left to the Engineer.
As to its Execution ; Amongst the number of Troops on the Mahawk River, there are no doubtcarpenters more than sufficient, who understand that business.
2 d The winter sets in there as in the oy r parts of the Province of New York, and not sooner;and as to the Practability of executing this post or Fort before the winter Maj r Eyres begun fortW m Henry in Sep 4 and it was finished by the end of Nov r follows being an Irregular square ofabout 300ft each side with Provincials alone and that without any Expence.
A. Fort Craven burnt by Gen 1 Webb.
B. F 4 Williams made of Stockades now destroyed
C. F 4 Stanwix built in 1758
D. F 4 Newport, a small Stockaded Fort with a Ditch round it
E. Saw Mill built in 1758
F. The Mohawk River
G. A small Creek w ch has its head from three springs.
H. The Middle Creek, has its head at a spring and joins the above Creek a little below the Fort .
I. The Saw Mill Dam
K. The Mill Race
L. The Waste Race
M. The Road from the Mahawk River over the Carrying Place to Fort Newport.
N. Stoney Creek part of the Wood Creek
O. A Drowned Swamp, the head of Stoney Creek