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ployed than in conducting or taking care of their carriages It was proposed to send an armed force immediately into
or horses. 6. All oats, Indian corn, or other forage that these counties, to seize as many of the best carriages and
waggons or horses bring to the camp, more than is neces- horses as should be wanted, and compel as many persons
sary for the subsistence of the horses, is to be taken for the into the service as would be necessary to drive and take
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care of them. always placed where they can be most secure, whether in a
I apprehended that the progress of British soldiers march or in a camp.
through these counties on such an occasion, especially con- If you are really, as I believe you are, good and loyal
sidering the temper they are in, and their resentment against subjects to his majesty, you may now do a most acceptable
us, would be attended with many and great inconveniences service, and make it easy to yourselves; for three or four of
to the inhabitants, and therefore more willingly took the such as can not separately spare from the business of their
trouble of trying first what might be done by fair and equi- plantations a waggon and four horses and a driver, may do
table means. The people of these back counties have lately it together, one furnishing the waggon, another one or two
complained to the Assembly that a sufficient currency was horses, and another the driver, and divide the pay propor-
wanting; you have an opportunity of receiving and dividing tionately between you; but if you do not this service to
among you a very considerable sum; for, if the service of your king and country voluntarily, when such good pay and
this expedition should continue, as it is more than probable reasonable terms are offered to you, your loyalty will be
it will, for one hundred and twenty days, the hire of these strongly suspected. The king s business must be done; so
waggons and horses will amount to upward of thirty thou- many brave troops, come so far for your defense, must not
sand pounds, which will be paid you in silver and gold of stand idle through your backwardness to do what may be
the king s money. reasonably expected from you; waggons and horses must be
The service will be light and easy, for the army will scarce had; violent measures will probably be used, and you will be
march above twelve miles per day, and the waggons and left to seek for a recompense where you can find it, and
baggage-horses, as they carry those things that are abso- your case, perhaps, be little pitied or regarded.
lutely necessary to the welfare of the army, must march I have no particular interest in this affair, as, except the
with the army, and no faster; and are, for the army s sake, satisfaction of endeavoring to do good, I shall have only my
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labour for my pains. If this method of obtaining the waggons his concern for the subalterns, who, he said, were generally
and horses is not likely to succeed, I am obliged to send not in affluence, and could ill afford, in this dear country,
word to the general in fourteen days; and I suppose Sir John to lay in the stores that might be necessary in so long a
St. Clair, the hussar, with a body of soldiers, will immedi- march, thro a wilderness, where nothing was to be purchas d.
ately enter the province for the purpose, which I shall be I commiserated their case, and resolved to endeavor procur-
sorry to hear, because I am very sincerely and truly your ing them some relief. I said nothing, however, to him of my
friend and well-wisher, B. FRANKLIN. intention, but wrote the next morning to the committee of
the Assembly, who had the disposition of some public money,
I received of the general about eight hundred pounds, to warmly recommending the case of these officers to their
be disbursed in advance-money to the waggon owners, etc.; consideration, and proposing that a present should be sent
but, that sum being insufficient, I advanc d upward of two them of necessaries and refreshments. My son, who had some
hundred pounds more, and in two weeks the one hundred experience of a camp life, and of its wants, drew up a list for
and fifty waggons, with two hundred and fifty-nine carry- me, which I enclos d in my letter. The committee approv d,
ing horses, were on their march for the camp. The advertise- and used such diligence that, conducted by my son, the
ment promised payment according to the valuation, in case stores arrived at the camp as soon as the waggons. They
any waggon or horse should be lost. The owners, however, consisted of twenty parcels, each containing
alleging they did not know General Braddock, or what de-
pendence might be had on his promise, insisted on my bond 6 lbs. loaf sugar. 1 Gloucester cheese.
for the performance, which I accordingly gave them. 6 lbs. good Muscovado do. 1 kegg containing 20 lbs. good
While I was at the camp, supping one evening with the 1 lb. good green tea. butter.
officers of Colonel Dunbar s regiment, he represented to me 1 lb. good bohea do. 2 doz. old Madeira wine.
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6 lbs. good ground coffee. 2 gallons Jamaica spirits. order on the paymaster for the round sum of one thousand
6 lbs. chocolate. 1 bottle flour of mustard. pounds, leaving the remainder to the next account. I con-
1-2 cwt. best white biscuit. 2 well-cur d hams. sider this payment as good luck, having never been able to
1-2 lb. pepper. 1-2 dozen dry d tongues. obtain that remainder, of which more hereafter.
1 quart best white wine vinegar 6 lbs. rice. This general was, I think, a brave man, and might prob-
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