Relics Of Bradstreet's Expedition

In the fall of the year 1764 Gon. Bradstreot, with three thoussnd men, oppned catupaign against the Indians on Lake Erie, and aftor varioua successes and defeats, startcd in battoaux trom Sandusky Bay to coast. down the lake, his forcos consisting of British regulare, provinciale and a large body of Indian allies. It is probable ttmt the beautiful autumn weather peculiar to the Western lakes doceived him as it had doceived Maj. Wilkins in the preceding year, for when a sudden gale overtook him, surprised nd confused, he ran the boats ashore on an open beach, where twenty-five were broken into fragmonts by the surf, and six cannon, together with most of the ainmunition and baggage, were lost. This open beach was within a mile of tho sceuo of the previous yoar disaster. As before tho storm continued threo days, and many of the men wero lost, swept away by the waves and overeóme with hunger and fatigue. When the skies cloarod Bradstreet roviewed his diminished forces, and after buryin1 the remaining cannon and atntnunition startod onward with thcregulars in the batteaux which had escaped tho storm, leaving the provincial and Indians to maketheir way by land, on foot and without provisions, four h'iudred miles through the forost as best they could. These provincials oame from New York, Connecticut and Now JerBey, and wore oommanded by Major Israel Putnatn, afterwards Major-General in tho United States Ariny. The story of their terrible journey is unwritten, but it is known that many died of slow starvation and fatigue alongthe route, which led through swamps and thickets, with deep rivers barring their payi ; and not uutil the last of December did they reach the forts, after having been twelve weeks in the wilderness. The number of those who perished in the wreek or died ou the journey ie not reoorded, but it was so large as to occasion petitions to the governinent an unusual proceeding at that early date. Tho route of the provincials and Indians left by Bradstreet to tind their way by land is marked by various objects dropped at the start orsoon after. Astack of bayonets covered with soil and rubbish was tound piled systematically at the foot of a treo, forgotten perhaps, or else left behind as too heavy for the long journey. A musket barrel was also found inclosed in a fork of a treo by the growth of the wood ; it had been placed in an inclined position, and had remainfll undisturbed until the tree had completely enveloped it. A uuiuber of gun-flints, a peck or moro, were plowed up on the high ground back of tho lakft, also a sword and bayonets. Further on, Prench and English coins bearing the date of 1714 were found, and ín another locality a silver tea-spoon and some pennies of 1749 ; these articles were probably thrown down in discarded clothingr or knapsacks. Every year discoveries are made of articles throwu up by the waves, washed out of tho cliffs or p'owed up in the fields. Many of these relies are in possession of tho silver-haued professor, who has studdied the localities and invested the point with a legendary interest rare in this busy West. When we recall thH early date of these expeditions, the great loss of life, the tragic scènes on the shore, and the terrible journey of the provincials through the forest, we must feel that the story, with ita silent illustration?, is as worthy of place in American history as many other events of leRS interest, whose minutest details have been described over and over again in the current literature