Fort Stanwix, a vital 18th-century stronghold in New York, is cast in the rich amber light of sunset during the tense era of the French and Indian War. Its timber palisades and bastions glow in the fading sun, a resolute presence amid the encroaching wilderness. — Jeffrey Campbell, Fort Stanwix, (2025)
Scurvy Hits Fort Stanwix
Albany March 3d. 1759
Sir
I received your Favour from Schenectady with the Inclosures from Fort Stanwix and Sir Willm. Johnson. If no proof of ill designs can be made out against the Indian, I shall send him to the Jersys, as soon as the River opens.
I have conversed with Mr. Monro on the subject of your scorbutick Men at Fort Stanwix, he tells me every man should be sent down the instant the smallest symptom of the scurvy is perceived, by detaining them longer, as there is no means at the Fort to cure this Disorder, it increases to a degree very difficult to be eradicated, and the man is soon rendered unable to march down the Country, which is the case of the twelve men mentioned in your Letter. He tells me likewise when any bad Symptoms appear on the men the sending them to Country Quarters will not answer, That they must at first be sent to General Hospital where proper medicines and food is prepared for them, and when the disorder is on the decline They may then be sent to the Farm Houses.
The sending delay's for such of your men not able to march is certainly very right, and instead of twenty fresh men which you propose sending, I wish you would double that number, and I fear there will be occasion for them.
I write to Major Clephane desiring his surgeon may frequently examine the men at least once a week. I am with great regard
yours &c
(sign'd) Thos. Gage
To Colo. Fraser P.S.
Since finishing my letter I have heard from Genl. Amherst who approves of sending fresh men to relieve such as are affected wth. the scurvy at Fort Stanwix, & if there should be occasion even of changing the whole Garrison in that manner without any formal relief you will therefore not be sparring of your men, for, from the Experience I have had of this cursed disorder I shall not be surpriz'd if you should be obliged to bring down most of the Garrison of Fort Stanwix by the End of this month.
Albany March 5th 1759.
Sir
I received your two Letters of the 24th & 26th February with Captn. Wendell's Muster Rolls &c. His Accot. is not exactly right, but I have got it rectified as well as I was able, from his Accot. and have granted a warrant for his money to 23d. February inclusive, which I hope he will receive by this opportunity. The Indian prisoner is arrived, He was certainly in the Jersey Regiment and taken at Lake George by the Enemy. The account he gives of his Travels after that incident may be true or false, but I shall soon know whether he belongs to the Jersey Indians. You will please to order the Three Men whose names are marked as unfit for service in Captain Wendell's Muster Rolls to be immediately discharged.
I have talked with Doctor Monro on the Subject of your Scorbutick Men, who tells me every man should be sent down the Country the moment the smallest symptoms of the scurvy appears, as your surgeon has not what is proper to cure this disorder, if they are detained longer, it will encrease so fast and to such a degree as very soon to render the men unable to march; which I understand by Colonel Fraser is actually the case with those men mentioned in your last letters. You will therefore be pleased to order your Surgeon to Examine all the men of your Garrison very frequently, at least one every week, to prevent this Disorder getting any Head in your Garrison, as I know the consequences to be very fatal. I have wrote very fully on this matter to Colonel Fraser who proposed sending you Twenty fresh men, to relieve such as you were disordered, I have desired him to double the number & wish you may not have too much occasion for them, by the time they reach Fort Stanwix.
Mr. Coventry shewed me your Return of Bedding &c. I am sorry it's so bad, particularly as I can send you no supply.
I hope the fresh provisions will be some relief to your Garrison, whenever it's in my power, I shall sned you a further supply.
I am &c.
(sign'd) Thos. Gage
To Major Clephane or offr.
commandg. at
Fort Edward Stanwix
Albany March 25th 1759
Dear Sir
The Post arrived here yesterday and brought me your Favor of the 19th instant. Notice has been sent of the Number of Indians at Ticonderoga and the Probability of their Endeavours to revenge this last stroke of Rogers, to every Post in the communication, wt. repeated orders to be on their guard: no mischief has since happened, and I hope none will happen. Rogers & the Indian officer Lutteridge distinguished themselves most in this scout, The Regulars, as you will see in the accots. sent you, were made little use of. You will sometime or other have it in your power to reward Rogers, and as for Lutteridge and the Indians I think it best to leave them to Sr. Wm. Johnson.
I have ordered Lieut. Genl. Murrays Regimt. to relieve Frasers, and intend replacing them by Prideauxs Regiment from hence, and as soon as Frasers Regimt. is embarked to bring Abercromby's Regimt. into this Town Till I am free of Frasers, Abercromby's would fill us too full, so propose letting them lye in their cantonments till the other sails. This relief could not have happened more unseasonably, The Frost just breaking up, neither waggon or Slay can stirr, and the River so full of Ice as to stop the navigation. A messenger has been sent upwards to reconnoitre the River and if found practicable, Colo. Massey Marches wt. his Regimt. tomorrow, but it's the opinion of most, that it will not be possible for him to move these three or four days.
As I shall not expect the Garrison of Fort Stanwix in less than fourteen days after General Murrays Regiment has actually Marched from Schenectady; I believe I shall be obliged to send Frasers Regiment down by piece=meal just as they arrive, as I am not willing to detain the Sloops here, which you will have occasion for below; and will likewise save demurrage.
I recd. a Letter yesterday from Major Clephane of the 17th Inst. telling me of the Impossibility of sending down the worst of his sick from the badness of the Roads and fullness of the creeks; that a slay sent up to assist his sick had been lost and the Horses drowned, The Major sent me at the same time a Letter from his Indian Interpreter, which I send herewith; and seems to finish all Hopes of Intelligence from the long expected Scout from Swogathchi.
Rogers is here and has fixed matters with Jacobs' who is set forward to raise his Company, the other Jacob's is also wrote to, as well as King Ungas of the Mohigons to raise two other Companys.
By a letter from Fort Edward of the 23d. inst. I find a Deserter had been just brought in from Ticonderoga, whom Colonel Haldimand says, confirms the former accots. of the Prisoners. He left the Enemy the 20th whom he says perceived that our party has Examined the Intrenchment, but had not discovered that any Person had been upon the Mountain. That they were in Trouble for a Scout of 30 Indians that had set out from Ticonderoga the second of this Month with 15 days provision, and not returned at the time of his Desertion. That another Party of 60 Indians were to set out from thence the 21st Tho' it's probable this Mans deserting may stop the Party, Colo. Haldimand has nevertheless sent advise of it to the several Posts. I believe the weather is not sufficient to stop all Partys for some time.
Most of the Regimts. have some men to be recommended to Chelsea who were not in a condition to move when the rest sailed in the Kennington; would you have them collected, and sent down to be ready for the next Man of War or remain here sometime longer? I have ordered Murrays Regimt. to leave theirs behind.
As the business relating to the Horses of the People of Half Moon concerned the Artillery only, I have employed Captain Martin and Mr. Wilson the Commissary to Examine into it; who have been to Half:Moon for this purpose: They report to me that Corry stirred up the Inhabitants to make these Demands, but that there is money justly due to them. Mr. Wilson knows a good deal of the affair, and says there were as many Horses used in the Artillery Service as set forth in both demands, but that the charge is too high, nothing being deducted for forrage. When Capt. Ord paid the first Demand, he thought he was quite clear of further claims, and no wonder he thought so from Corry's Receipt, Had he taken the trouble to find out the owners of the Horses, instead of Dealing wt. a Lawyer, the People would have been satisfied, and no further trouble given in the affair. I hope to have it settled in a few days.
Thank you for the List of Promotions, I have no news but what you have heard. Mr. Boscawen & Sir Chas. Hardy not pleased. I am
&c.
Thos. Gage
His Excy
Genl. Amherst
Works Consulted
"Letterbook of Thomas Gage, Albany, 1759 January 20-1760 May 5." In the digital collection Thomas Gage Papers, 1738-1807. https://quod.lib.umich.edu/g/gage/gage.7001.001. William L. Clements Library, University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed December 2, 2024.
© Jeffrey Campbell, Fraser's 78th Regiment of Foot, 2025.
