At a Council of War held by His Excellency W^m Shirley
Esq^r General & Commander in Chief of all His Majesty's
Forces in North America at N York on Friday the 12^th Day of
Dec^r 1755
Present

His Excellency William Shirley Esq^r General &c
His Excellency Sir Charles Hardy Kn^t Governor &
Commander in Chief of the Province of New York.
The Hon^ble Hor^o Sharpe Lieut^t Governor & Commander
in Chief of the Province of Maryland.
The Hon^ble Robert Hunter Morris Lieut' Governor &
Commander in Chief of the Province of Pensilvania.
The Hon^ble Thomas Fitch Governor & Commander
in Chief of the Colony of Connecticutt
Colonel Thomas Dunbar
Major Charles Craven
S^r John St Clair Deputy Quarter Master General
Major Iames Kinneer.
Major Iohn Rutherford.

The Generals Commission being read together with Part of
a Letter to him dated the 28^th of last August from The Right
Hon^ble S^r Thomas Robinson one of His Majesty's Principal
Secretaries of State & part of His Majesty's Seventh Instruc-
tion to the late General Braddock; Several Points of Rank
which were moved by some of the Members of the Council
were setled after which His Excellency adjourned the Council
to the Next Day at 9 o Clock in the Forenoon —
Saturday December the 13^th 1755 The Council met
according to Adjournment present as before together with
Colonel Peter Schuyler.
His Excellency acquainted the Council that he had convened
them to give their Opinion & Advice upon a Plan of Opera-
tions which he proposes for the next years Campaign in order
to effect the several services he is directed by His Majesty's