Description:

French and Indian War - Manuscript receipt for a gun loaned to the colony of Rhode Island for use in the 1755 expedition against Crown Point signed by Francis Willet Manuscript Document Signed "Francis Willett", one page, 6.25" x 4", Southkingstown ("South Kingston"), [Rhode Island], August 18, 1756. Light creases, edge wear, else very fine. A receipt for a gun loaned by Francis Willett to the colony for use in the 1755 expedition against Crown Point. "Recd. of Beniah[?] Brown five pounds (old Tenor) it being for the use of my Gun which was Impressed for the Use of the Government in the Expedition against Crown Point"

The Crown Point expedition of 1755 was part of an ambitious and poorly conceived British plan to expel the French from four frontier positions in one campaign. The objectives included Fort Duquesne (Fort Pitt), Fort Niagara, Nova Scotia and on Lake Champlain, Fort St. Fr’©d’©ric -- known to the British as Crown Point. William Johnson led a force of 3500 provincials from New England and New York northward over great obstacles. By September however, the force was still based at Fort Edward busily trying to complete bateaux to move up Lake George. Unbeknownst to Johnson, French General baron de Dieskau had decided to mount a raid against Fort Edward from Fort St. Fr’©d’©ric that would result in the Battle of Lake George. Though British arms eventually won the day, both sides suffered significant losses -- enough to stop the Crown Point expedition in its tracks for the year. The British would be unable to capture the site and control Lake Champlain until 1759. This document illustrates the ad hoc nature of the early operations mounted by provincial forces against the French. Arms were in such short supply that the colony was forced to resort to measures like this to arm their militia.

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