Subject: Recruiting the Indians, 17 March 1758
Resent-Date: Sun, 22 Mar 1998 23:19:35 -0800 (PST)
Resent-From: SCROOTS-L@rootsweb.com
Date: Mon, 23 Mar 1998 02:21:58 -0500
From: Steve Coker 
Organization: gamecock@yours.com
To: "SCROOTS-L@rootsweb.com" 

The Colonial Records of South Carolina
The Journal of the Commons House of Assembly
Published by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History
Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 51-62239
ISBN: 1-880067-28-5

Friday the 17th of March 1758.

"... A Message from the Governor by Mr. Bassnett.

Mr. Speaker & Gentlemen,

In a Letter I have received from his Excellency the Earl of Loudoun dated 13th
February his Lordship acquaints me that he proposes the Ensuing Campaign to
Carry on Certain Operations against the Enemy for the Success of which it is of
the utmost consequence That the Forces to be Employed Shou'd be joined by as
Large a Number of Indians as Possible & as His Lordship has had accounts both
from Virginia & Pensylvania of the great Service that the body of Cherokees did
when they were there Last Year. His Lordship applies to this Government to
Engage as great a Number of them as can be Collected & his Lordship has sent
hither The Honorable Collol. Byrd, One of his Majesty's Council of Virginia,
that in Case Mr. Atkin is either not here, or not able to go on this important
Service, Collonel Byrd may without Loss of time repair to Keowee, there to
Confer with the Indians & Conduct them from thence to Winchester in Virginia
where his Lordship desires they may rendezvous.

I Propose that Lieutenant Collo. Howarth Shou'd be Dispatch'd without delay for
the Nation to Collect the Indians together & bring them to the Meeting at Keowee
& that as an Inducement to them to go upon the Expedition he Shou'd be Impowerd
to furnish them with goods proper to fit them out for warr from any of the
Stores in the Nation, to the Amount of Ten Pounds Currency per man & to promise
them as Compensation for Loseing their hunts That they Shall upon their Return
when the Campaign is over receive Each Man, to the Value of forty weight of
Leather in Goods out of the aforesaid Stores.

The Charge of this for a Thousand Warriors, Supposeing that so Large a Number
can be Collected, it is computed will amount to forty Thousand pounds, ten of
which only it will be necessary Shou'd be raised by the Tax Act of this Year &
the Remainder Should it come to that amount in that of the Year Ensuing. I am
Sensible that the Expences of this Government will this Year amount to a very
Large Sum but I doubt not when you reflect how deeply His Majesty's Service is
Concerned & the Particular Interest of this Collony whose future tranquillity &
welfare may in the highest degree depend upon the Success of this measure & be
either fatally interrupted or permanently Establish'd as it prospers or
miscarries and how much it will tend to the Honour of this Government & prove
its great importance in the Scale of American Provinces, If it can send a Large
Number of Indians upon this most Essential Service when the No[r]thern
Governments are Unhappyly but ill able to Engage many in Such undertakings, I
Say I doubt not you will With Chearfullness & Alacrity grant the Supplies I Ask.

Lord Loudoun observes that his Majesty Looks for the Aid of his faithfull
Subjects for Such Services as these, and has so Expressed himself both in his
Instructions to his Lordship & in his Letters to His Governors on this
Continent. I have only to Add, that his Lordship says that without dispatch the
whole Service Expected from this Measure will be Lost, and therefore I hope to
know your resolutions as speedily as may be.

Willm. Henry Lyttelton...."

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