Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 7.djvu/211

COO-ASH-AUKE. 187 ber of the party was Robert Rogers, afterward the famous scout and ranger, and the destroyer of the Indian village of St. Francis, in 1759.

To reconcile the above account with the statement in the letter of Mr. Williams, we must conclude there is error in dates, which would not be likely to occur, or the meaning of the author of the letter has been misunderstood, unless there was a previous expedition under private enterprise, which may have been the case.

The author of Stark's memoirs, in alluding to this expedition, seems to treat it lightly and says, "They reached Concord on their return on the thirteenth day from the time of their departure." What is his authority for this statement we are unable to find, and he in the same connection refers to Col. Potter's account, which authority says, "they performed the duty assigned them in twenty days."

This then was the state of affairs in the "Cohos" country in the spring of 1753, about ten years previous to its occupancy by the whites. The English had penetrated and marked a way by the Merrimack and Pemigewasset valleys, into the heart of the Indian territory, notwithstanding the protest of the native chiefs. This action, we may presume, was immediately communicated to the French, for rumor was soon brought that they were building a fort at Upper Cohos. This being conveyed to the governor, he dispatched a company under command of Capt. Peter Powers, and Stark says, "with a flag of truce, to demand their authority for so doing." The author of the History of Manchester says they were sent out "in pursuit of the Indians," who had again commenced their hostilities on the frontiers.

From the Adjutant General's Report we have no reference to this expedition, except in the biographical notice of Peter Powers, which says, "A report was afloat that the French were building a fort at the 'Upper Coos,' and Governor Wentworth ordered Capt. Powers to march to that section of country and ascertain the fact. This was in June, 1754. He obeyed the order and found that the report was unfounded."

Perhaps the Captain did not penetrate far enough to prove the report untrue, as he ended his explorations about two miles above the mouth of what is now known as Israel's river. The first fortification known to have been built above the "fifteen mile falls," or at "Upper Coos," was constructed by a detached company from Colonel Blanchard's regiment, which was enlisted for service against Crown Point in 1755. This company was officered as follows: Robert Rogers, captain, Richard Rogers, 1st lieutenant, John Stark, 2d lieutenant, Noah Johnson, ensign. Early in the summer of that year they were sent forward from their rendezvous on the Merrimack to build a fort at "Coos Meadows," which locality, so little known by the government, was supposed to be in the direct route from Salisbury Fort to Crown Point. And it was to be for "occupation by the regiment, or for resort in case of disaster." The report of the Adjutant General says: "Capt. Rogers executed his commission and built a fort at the junction of the Ammonoosuc with the Connecticut, on the south side of the former river. This was called 'Fort Wentworth.'" And he adds: "This fort upon the Ammonoosuc should have been called 'Fort Folly' instead of Wentworth, as the fort, as well as the batteaux, never was of any use."

It has been asked, Why did not Rogers, in his famous retreat from St. Francis, in 1759, stop at this fort which himself had builded, and find needed rest and relief from pursuit by the Indians? The only answer seems to be in the fact that they were upon the opposite side of the river from the fortification, and not finding the expected boats and having no tools for constructing a raft for aid in crossing, they thought their only safety was in continued flight from their pursuers.

After civilization had penetrated to