The Expedition to Fort Chartres

Following the Treaty of Paris ending the Seven Years War, the French surrendered the Illinois country, along with most of its holdings in North America. Located along the Mississippi in present-day southwestern Illinois was Fort de Chartres, the French headquarters in the Illinois country.

Immediately, British forces occupied all French military posts, with the notable exception of Fort de Chartres. The British military was preparing to send an expedition to Chartres to relieve the French garrison, but the Indian uprising led by Pontiac consumed most of the British attention.

In 1764, men from the 22nd and 34th regiments traveled up the Mississippi, as far as 250 miles from New Orleans, only to be attacked by Indians, prompting the entire expedition to turn and flee back to New Orleans.

The failure of the Mississipi route prompted the British leadership to plan an alternative route: travelling down the Ohio river from Fort Pitt, moving swiftly to prevent marauding at the hands of the area's indians. Over the winter of 1764-1765, Lt. John Ross of the 34^th Regiment and Hugh Crawford, a trader, set out to notify to commandant of Fort Chartres of the intentions.

Following is a chronology of notable event of the expedition to Fort deChartres. Journals were kept of this expedition by Captain Stirling, and either Lt. Eddington or the surgeon. When relevent, the author will be noted.

Spring, 1765

Noted frontiersman and Indian trader George Croghan is dispatched to Fort Chartres, to negotiate a treaty of peace with Illinois country Indians, following a route from Fort Pitt, along the Ohio River, to the Mississippi and Fort Chartres.

March 22, 1765

While Croghan is waylaid by frontier marauders, Lt. Alexander Fraser of the 78th Highlanders takes off on the expedition without him. Fraser is accompanied by (among others) a sergeant and eight or nine men of the 42nd.

At Fort Massac, Fraser sent the sergeant, an Indian, the interpreter, and six soldiers with the batteaux down the river towards Chartres, while he and the rest of the party continued on towards Fort Chartres overland.

April 17, 1765

Fraser's expedition arrives at Fort Chartres, where several "dramatic" encounters were had with the Indian chief Pontiac.

May 14, 1765

Croghan, after resupplying his expedition, and gaining the cooperation of the Shawnee and Delaware Indians, departed for Chartres.

June 8, 1765

At the mouth of the Wabash, Croghan's party is attacked and looted by Kickapoo and Mascouten warriors. The party was then imprisioned at Fort Ouiatanon in Indiana. Upon realization that such powerful tribes as the Shawnee and Delaware were in the party, the looters were repentful, releasing Croghan and his party.

As the expedition prepared to continue on to Fort Chartres, Pontiac arrived, announcing that he and the Illinois were willing to make peace.

June 19, 1765

Fearful for their safety, Fraser's expedition departed from Fort Chatres, and arrived in New Orleans on this date.

July 12, 1765

Croghan writes Fort Pitt, informing them of his capture, and of Pontiac's peace offer. An expedition was immediately put in motion to relieve Fort Chartres, and occupy the Illinois country.

August 24, 1765

The 42^nd Regiment (The Royal Highlanders) was selected for the expedition, commanded by Captain Thomas Stirling, who would later serve as commanding officer of the 42nd during much of the American Revolution. The expedition consisted of three lieutenants , a surgeon's mate, four sergeants, four corporals, two drummers, 92 private soldiers, one bombardier, four matrosses, two Indian interpreters, and twelve Senecas and Delawares acting as scouts.

The lieutenants were James Eddington, James Rumsey, and John Smith. The names of the rest of the expedition are unknown, except for Sergeant MacIntosh, who drowned very early in the expedition, and the bombardier, whose name (written as Covin) is most likely Cowan or Gowan.

August 24, 1765

Capt. Stirling notes that the first night of the expedition, one sergeant (McIntosh)"drank too freely" and fell out of the boat and drowned.
Eddington states that McIntosh fell in and drowned trying to "push the Battoe he was in off a large Rifft where she had grounded."

September 1, 1765

The expedition kills and takes for food a "Buffaloe Cow, which made a fine meat as ever England produced.". Eddington notes that they left half the carcasses where they lay, with nothing more than their tongues taken. The journal notes many buffalo hunts throughout the trip.

September 10, 1765

A windy day, the expedition cut masts and made sails of the men's plaids.

September 22, 1765

Capt. Stirling has a stirring battle with a bear, which he describes as a "monstrous Creature", measuring over 6 feet long.

September 24, 1765

In southern Indiana, the expedition encountered a "prodigious number" of pelicans, which in the evening light were first mistaken for a regiment of French.

September 25, 1765

The expedition passed the mouth of the Wabash. Both journals mention its outposts, including Ouiatanon, where it is described by Eddington as having "vast & extensive plains or Meadows on its banks, abounding with incredible quantities of all kinds of game, and several numerous Tribes of Indians live on its banks: the Piankashaws, part of the Kiquapous & Musqatons [Mascouten], Ouiatanons etc.."

Eddington notes that the from the place where the Wabash joins the Ohio, the French refer to as the Wabash, with the Ohio ending at the Wabash. The British, though, call the whole river from Fort Pitt to the Mississippi the Ohio.

Three Indians are set forth to Fort Chartres overland to warn the French commander of the expedition's immenent arrival.

September 26, 1765

The expedition encounters a group of voyaguers and a notorious Shawnee chief named Corn Cobb, who were carrying "one thousand weight of powder, a considerable quantity of lead, and a good number of Muskets." Corn Cob did not believe that the French had been defeated, and was openly hostile to the British, who he called "a greedy & encroaching people."

Stirling notes that his distrust of Corn Cobb was well founded, as Croghan later wrote that he was a "bad and useless man; has been much in the French interest". Stirling also later reveals that part of Corn Cobb's dislike of the British was likely due to a fear that the British would take his wife, a white girl who had been kidnapped from Virginia.

September 29, 1765

The expedition arrives at Fort Massac, which was burned to the ground six months before by Indians. Lieutenant Rumsey sent ahead to Chartres overland with a soldier, a couple of Indians, and an interpreter.

September 30, 1765

The expedition reaches the Mississppi, where all journal authors note the differences between the rivers: the clear Ohio didn't mix into the clay-colored, muddy Mississippi for over a mile past the confluence. The speed of the Mississippi's current drug the expedition downstream, despite the hard rowing of the men.

October 3, 1765

The expedition finds an island, where they found the remains of an earthern Indian fort, from a battle where Cherokee attacked Illinois and Kickapoo.

October 7, 1765

The expedition reaches Kaskaskia. The entry from October 6 and 7 note that they were constantly on the lookout for Lt. Rumsey, who had been ordered to get a canoe and come back to join them.

October 9, 1765

The expedition passes Ste. Genevieve, noting the "pretty Girls" there.

The expedition was recieved by the French garrison. Stirling notes that the French commandant requested permission to stay at the Fort, to which Stirling agreed, provided that the 42^nd took posession first.

Eddington notes that the British and French officers dined together that night.

October 10, 1765

The 42^nd takes possession of Fort deChartres. Stirling notes that St. Ange (the commandant) insisted that the striking of the French flag would have to be done by the British, since he would never lower the Pavillion Francois. Following is the entirety of Eddington's journal entry for October 10:

"The men being all properly dress'd, we got under Arms about 10 o'clock and march'd to the Fort with our Drums beating. Before we came to the Gate an Officer with a party came out of the Fort and planted himself on the Road some distance from our Front. Our Detachment immediately halted and an officer with a party went forward to him. The French Officer challeng'd "Who's there", "What Regiment" and what we were marching for, all which being matter of form. We having hanswer'd to each challange he call'd to us we might advance. We accordingly resum'd our March and found an Officer Guard drawn up at the inside of the Gate, with rested Arms and a Drum beating a March as we passed on to the Square."

"There were about Forty French Soldiers in the Colony, --- I was sent with the Officer at the Gate, with the same number of Men to relieve him. His Guard was compos'd of old Men looking like Invalids without any sort of uniform. Most of them had on Jackets of different colours and slouch'd Hats, and their Arms seem'd to be old and in very indifferent order. When the Sentries were relieved and the Guard just ready to march off, The French colours were pull'd down. Upon sight of this those Honest Old Veterans were greatly Chagrind. They could not help venting their indigination, by shruggin their shoulders and declaring when they fought under the Marshals Berwick Saxe and Lowendale, no such dishonour was then ever seen. In fact, all Europe trembled at the French name."

October 11, 1765

The men spent the day cleaning the Fort and Barracks, which were "very dirty." and "very long weeds several feet high were growing all over the Square and round the wall.

October 14, 1765

The inhabitants of the colony were taking their cattle, grain and effects across the Mississippi to the Spanish side (St. Louis). Houses were even torn down and their materials used to build in Spanish territory. Despite British proclamations and prohibitions, residents continued to clandestinely sneak off.

In Philadelphia, the men of the deChartres expedition were commended in the Regimental Orders of October 16.

All citations are quoted from Robert G. Caroon's "Broadswords and bayonets : the journals of the expedition under the command of Captain Thomas Stirling of the 42nd Regiment of Foot, Royal Highland Regiment (the Black Watch) to occupy Fort Chartres in the Illinois Country, August 1765to January 1766"

This timeline of the Chartres expedition is summarized from that same volume.

Thanks for Lieutenant-Colonel Ian Macpherson McCulloch for identifying Lt. John Smith.

James Eddingstone was the Adjutant and second-in-command of the Stirling Expedition. Born in Scotland in 1739, Eddington was commissioned Ensign in the 1st Battalion of the 1st or Royal Regiment of Foot, 2 March 1757. Later in 1757, he transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Royals and came to America with the regiment. He was wounded during the battle of Echoe [Tessuntee] in Montgomery's campaign in the Carolinas in 1760. He was gazetted Lieutenant in the 42nd or Royal Highland Regiment of Foot, 9 July 1762, and by 1765, was in command at Fort Loudon before being handpicked as one of four officers suitable for the Stirling Expedition. Eddington returned with the Royal Highland Regiment to Ireland in 1767, but left the British army, 10 February 1770. He then started a second military career in the service of the East Indian Company army rising to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He died in 1802. He is listed as Edington in WO 34/47: ff. 17-18 and Eidingtoun in WO 25/209; WO 25/209: f. 159; land grant in "The Towns of Windham County", Vermont Historical Gazeteer, Vol. V, (Brandon, 1891). David Stewart of Garth, Sketches of the Highlanders of Scotland, Vol.I, (Edinburgh, 1822), 355, 359 [hereafter Sketches].

John Smith (1732 -1783). British army officer. John Smith was born in Scotland in 1732 and joined the 42nd as a gentleman volunteer c. 1755. He was made Ensign in the 42nd Highland Regiment, 15 May 1757, while it was still stationed in Ireland and preparing to go overseas. He was wounded at the Battle of Ticonderoga, 8 July 1758, and two weeks later was promoted to Lieutenant (26 July 1758) in room of one of numerous regimental officers killed, Lieutenant Hugh Macpherson. Smith served on all subsequent campaigns of the regiment: Ticonderoga and Crown Point 1759, Montreal 1760, the Carribean 1762. He was with the remains of his regiment that marched with Bouquet to relieve Fort Pitt and fought with Kirkwood at Bushy Run in August 1763. On the downsizing of the 42nd Foot to peacetime establishment in September 1763, he was retained as one of the more senior and veteran lieutenants of the regiment and was entrusted with the command of Fort Ligonier 25 December 1763 - 2 March 1764. In the fall of 1764, Smith participated in Bouquet's Muskingum expedition to chastise the Ohio Indians. In 1765, he served as Captain James Stirling's second-in-command on the expedition down the Illinois to secure Fort de Chartres and its dependencies for the British Crown. On his return from the expedition, Smith was hard-pressed financially, as were his brother officers, but he kept his commission and returned with the 42nd to Ireland in 1767. He was made Captain Lieutenant, 14 January 1775 and was promoted Captain, 16 July 1775, with seniority to the date of his Captain Lieutenantcy. He served as a company commander for the duration of the regiment's service in North America during the War of Independence. He died [dd] 26 July, 1783, 26 years to the day of his promotion after the battle of Ticonderoga. Bouquet Papers, VI; BALs; Officers of the Black Watch 1725 to 1952(Perth, 1952, [revised edition]); BM, Add. MSS. 21651, f. 114; "Monthly Return of HM's Forces in North America" dated 21 February 1766." WO 17, NAC Microfilm B-1566.

Thomas Stirling or Sterling [8 October 1731-9 May 1808] the captain commanding the expedition to take possession of Fort de Chartres. Stirling was the second son of Sir Henry Stirling of Struwan and Ardoch. He was commissioned Ensign in the Dutch service, 30 September 1747 and was placed on half pay in 1753. He was restored to service, as Ensign in in the 1st Battalion of Colonel Marjoribanks' Regiment, 31 October 1756. In 1757, three additional companies were added to Lord John Murray's 42nd Highland Regiment of Foot and, on the recommendation of the Duke of Atholl, and having raised the requisite number of men, Stirling was gazetted Captain, 24 July 1757[although the 1st BAL 1763 has the year as 1756]. In November of that year, he sailed for America. In garrison at Fort Edward, he was not present at the 1758 attack on Ticonderoga. He served with the 42nd in the 1759 and 1760 campaigns with Amherst. He took part in the capture of Martinique in 1762 and was wounded, 24 January 1762 [WO 34/55: f. 58] but was able to serve in the capture of Havana later in that year. He returned with his regiment to America and in August, 1765, was sent in command of a company to take possession of Fort de Chartres on the Mississippi. In 1767, the 42nd left America for garrison duty in Ireland and Scotland. On 12 December 1770, Stirling was gazetted Major to the regiment [although that appointment is not recorded in BAL 1770 or BAL 1771], and on 7 September 1771 was made Lieutenant Colonel. When the War for Independence broke out, Stirling raised the strength of his regiment from 350 men to 1200 in five months, returned with it in the following spring to America, where he commanded it continuously for three years during the war. He was badly wounded in 1779 and was invalided home. He was made Colonel by brevet, 19 February 1779 while continuing to serve as Lieutenant Colonel in the RHR. He was also made Aide de Camp to His Majesty the King. Stirling was made Colonel of the 71st Highland Regiment of Foot, 13 February 1782 and was made Major General, 20 November 1782. He wnet on half-pay when the 71st was disbanded, 4 June 1784 but returned to active status when made Colonel of the 41st Regiment of Foot, 13 January 1790. He was made Lieutenant General, DD MM 1796. On 26 July 1799, on the death of his brother, Stirling succeeded to the baronetcy of Ardoch. On 1 January 1801, Sir Thomas was made General. See DNB XVIII: 1270-1271; Ferguson: Scots Brigade, Richards: The Black Watch at Ticonderoga: 80-81 and Valentine II: 828-829.

James Rumsey was the Stirling expedition's commissary or supply officer and only member of that expedition to return to the Illinois country. He is mentioned twice in Kirkwood's Memoirs: first, as the officer who volunteered to carry a letter overland from Fort Massiac to Fort de Chartres warning the French commandant of the Highlanders' pending arrival and requesting guides; and secondly, as the officer who got lost in the canebreaks for three days at Christmas 1765. Rumsey first appears in the British army as a commissioned Lieutenant in a new-raising Independent Company of Free Negroes, 4 February 1762, in the West Indies, and a mere five months later (no doubt due to the high casualty rates from disease at Havana) was transferred to a lieutenantcy in the 77th or Montgomerie's Highlanders, 27 July 1762.

When the 77th was disbanded, 24 December 1763, Rumsey went on half-pay until he was able to exchange into the 42nd Regiment as an Ensign with seniority as a Lieutenant dated 17 March 1764. It was not uncommon after the 1763 reductions for the army to give preference to half-pay lieutenants who were willing to serve in a battalion at an ensign's pay whilst preserving their seniority in the higher rank. Rumsey abruptly retired from the army 27 August 1766, a month after his return from the trip down the Ohio and Mississippi, "drowned in debt" and "obliged to sell out" according to his commanding officer, Thomas Stirling.(SJ, 22.) His Illinois experience however soon landed him a job with the trading firm of Baynton, Wharton, and Morgan, [BWM] in Philadelphia. This company, assisted by the cooperation and connivance of George Croghan, deputy Indian superintendent under Sir William Johnson, moved to seize a virtual monopoly of the Indian trade of the Illinois country that Rumsey had just left. In this "Grand Illinois Venture," Rumsey accompanied George Morgan, the third and youngest partner in BWM, to the Illinois country in 1766 in the capacity of assistant. However, difficulties with the military, growing competition from other traders, and charges of unscrupulous business practices brought about a decline in the company's fortunes by 1767, and the partners went into voluntary receivership with their creditors administering the business. By 1768. Rumsey was putting down his own roots for Captain Gordon Forbes,34th Foot ,commanding at Fort de Chartres reported to general Gage in June 1768 that he had "given leave to one Mr. Rumsey, Late a Lieutenant in the 42d Regiment (who has the honour of being known to your Excellency) to settle upon a Spot of Ground near Kasakaskies; it has been forfeited to the King ever Since we have been in possession of this Country." In 1772 the firm withdrew from the Illinois venture, and the process of liquidation continued until about 1776.

James Rumsey managed affairs for the Illinois branch during Morgan's leave of absence when the firm began to flounder in 1770. Although he was an old friend of Morgan, he jumped ship and accepted an offer to become the secretary of Lieutenant Colonel John Wilkins, commanding officer of the 18th Foot headquartered at Fort de Chartres, Morgan's enemy. Rumsey then became a partner of merchant William Murray, in competition with his old employers and it was through their local trading firm that remaining goods of BWM were liquidated from 1772-1776. In April 1772, Rumsey's patron, Lt. Colonel Wilkins asked for leave to settle some disputes with the local traders who had sent their petitions to General Gage complaining of Wilkin's conduct.

The Royal Irish left the Illinois Country forever in May, 1772 leaving behind a small temporary garrison of a light infantry company and half of the lieutenant colonel's company in Kaskaskia, the principal trading settlement. Later in the month, a group of Chickasaws raided the store of Rumsey and Murray at Kaskaskia, and they were forced to call upon the remaining garrison for help. At the end of the affair, several warriors were killed and one taken prisoner. No further record of Rumsey Gordon Forbes to Gage(Fort Chartres, June 23, 1768) in William L. Clements Library, Gage Papers, American Series, vol. 78, 1-4;