THE PEPPERRELL PAPERS. RECORDS OF THE COUNCILS OF WAR, &c.* AT a Council of War held at Canso Aprill 5th, 1745. ARTHUR NOBLE, Esq THO CHANDLER, Esq EDWARD EVELEIGH, Esq JN° GORHAM, Esq NATH MESHARVEY, Esq† RIOD GRIDLEY, Esq Mr WM VAUGHAN. CRIVER His Honour the President communicated to the Council his instructions from his Excell' Governour Shirley, and * These Records are printed from a folio volume, of about a hundred pages with stiff paper covers, given to the Society by Rev. Dr. Belknap in October, 1791, and marked on the cover "Register of the Councils of War," and on the fly-leaf "This Book contains Records of the proceedings of the Councils of War [and Courts Martial] held from time to time in the Expedition against Cape Breton, 1745." The words enclosed in brackets were erased with a pen drawn twice over them. The volume is no doubt the original record book, and with the possible exception of a part of the record of one meeting of the Council it is wholly in the handwriting of Benjamin Green, Secretary to the Expedition. - EDS. † In the early records this name is uniformly written "Mesharvey," which clearly indicates the manner in which it was then pronounced. After May 9 it appears as "Mesharve." It is now commonly written "Meserve." The bearer of the name was a native of Portsmouth, N. H., and Lieutenant Colonel in Colonel Moore's regiment. See post, p. 391 n. — EDS. acquainted them that he had convened them to consider of the most suitable measures for putting the same in execution. Upon which it was unanimously Advized, that, whereas the island of Canso is a convenient place for a retreat of the army in case of need and the reception of the sick and wounded, the blockhouse provided for ye expedition be erected on the hill of Canso, and inclosed with picketts, and eight (nine pounders) cannon be planted there, and a sod battery rais'd, and necessary ammunition, wth workmen and tools, and two companies of forty men each be left for the security of sa place, and that during the time the army may be obliged to tarry at Canso, they be encouraged to assist in preparing the ground and erecting the said blockhouse. Advized unanimously, that notwithstanding the train of artillery and some part of the troops are not yet arrived at Canso, those now there proceed with the first favourable wind and weather to Chappeaurouge Bay, and endeavour to take possession of the field; at least after their having been review'd and compleatly furnish'd wth y° necessary accoutrements, provided that upon examination it shall appear that a sufficiency of ammunition and other stores for them be also arrived. At a Council of War held at Canso on board the Shirley Galley Apr 14th, 1745. Present The Honble W PEPPERRELL, Esq, President. SAM WALDO, Esq Jo® DWIGHT, Esq JER. MOULTON, Esq SAM WILLARD, Esq ROBERT HALE, Esq SYLVESTER RICHMOND, Esq SHUBAEL GORHAM, Esq SAML MOORE, Esq JNo BRADSTREET, Esq' JN° STORER, Esq ARTHUR NOBLE, Esq NATH DONNEL, Esq THO CHANDLER, Esq EDWD EVELITH, Esq NATH MESHARVEY, Esq Mr WILL VAUGHAN. His Honour the President reminded the Council of his Excell instructions relating to St Peters, and that he had just obtain'd information by some Indian prisoners brought in by Capt Donahew that the inhabitants at St Peters were retir'd into the woods, excepting a small number of soldiers wth an officer (as they said, but ten or twelve men), and desired the opinion of the Council whether it be adviseable to omitt sending the proposed detachment to St Peters in consequence of this information. Whereupon it was Advized unanimously, that as the information appear'd worthy of credit, and that the circumstances of that place were thereby set in a very different light from what they appear'd in when his Excell proposed the detachment to that place, and that thereby such an unforeseen emergency had arisen as his Excell' had been pleas'd to leave to the discression of y° Lt General, that therefore the prosecution of the proposed design against St Peters be omitted, and that the detachment allotted for that purpose proceed with the rest of the fleet to Chappeaurouge Bay. Advized, that Capts Donahew and Beckett with their sloops be order'd to put out some few hours before the body of the fleet in order to take or drive into port any small vessels they may meet with in their way. The Council desired the President, that inasmuch as some topsail vessels had been seen off this day, if he should have reason to think they were enemies, or should have no intelligence of our cruising vessels before the departure of the fleet for Chappeaurouge Bay, that he would be pleas'd to order that Capts Donahew & Beckett before they proceed to ye Bay Vert join the fleet and proceed wth it, the better to secure the landing of the forces. At a Council of War held at Canso Aprill 18th, 1745. Present The Honble WILL JN° GORHAM, Esq RIC GRIDLEY, Esq' PEPPERRELL, Esq, President. Jos. DWIGHT, EsqTM The President acquainted the Council that he had been inform'd that there was not above a fortnight's allowance of rum and molosses remaining in the fleet, and desired their opinion whether the cargo of rum and molosses lately brought into this port in the brigt Victory, taken from the French enemy by Caps Snelling and Fletcher, shall be retain'd for the use of the army. Upon which the several commissaries were order'd to attend, who reported that by calculation made there was not more than a week's allowance of either of those species, and that if the full allowance of molosses had been given out the whole would have been expended. Upon which it was Advized, that all the rum and molosses on board the said vessel be taken out for the use of the army, if good, and two casks of coffee; the commissarys to draw on the Commissary Gen' in Boston for the same. Complaint being made of some bad provisions in y army, Cap Sole, Capt Butler, Capt Dodge, & Capt Waldo were desired to inspect the same. At a Council of War held at Canso Aprill 19th, 1745. Present M The Honble W" PEPPERRELL, Esq', President. JN° STORER, Esq NATH. MESHARVEY, Esq' Jos. DWIGHT, Esq Whereas a second brigt prize is brot into this port by Caps Donahew and Swan, laden wth rum & molosses, which is a good sailor, and may be serviceable in the expedition, it was proposed by the President, Whether the advice of y° Council of yesterday be reconsidered and the cargo last bro in be taken instead of the other; upon which it was Advized, that the cargo of the brigt last brought into this port called the St Jean be taken for the use of the army, and the molosses belonging to the cargo of y brig Victory be taken and forty hogsheads of her rum and her cannon excepting two, wch cannon are to be put into the brigt St Jean, and that the cloathing on board yo St Jean be apprized and taken for yo use of the soldiers, if suitable, also a parcell of soap and tobacco, and that sd vessell attend the fleet to Chappeaurouge Bay. Advized, that what English prisoners are or may be retaken, be employ'd in the service of the expedition. At a Council of War held at Canso Aprill 20th, 1745. |