r: ;<* : V <^ /; > IMAGE EVALUATION TEST TARGET (MT-3) rrjaili IB|-«(i I Jth, 1.25 1.4 1 1.6 ♦ < 6" ► Photographic Sciences Corporation CIHM/ICMH Microfiche Series. CIHM/ICMH Collection de microfiches. Canadian Institute for Historical Microreproductions / Institut Canadian de nrtlsroreproductions historiques ftiwi»ffiifiw«iiaiiai^-- -mmmmmim Technical and Bibliographic Notes/Notes techniques et bibliographiques The Institute has attempted to obtain the best original copy available for filming. Features of this copy which may be bibliographicaliy unique, which may alter any of the images in the reproduction, or which may significantly change the usual method of filming, are checl ^^fl-V/ASW^^ f\\ PHILADELPHIA. 1856. 1^ ^^„^J! ^^ <:S M m ^ m -}^f '* y. \ '--! t t^ ' ^ f ^ *l _»ni;r^^j m i y L^ t ^ ^ ^ . T g ^T? yJi;^-^ | -^;;^ ''* -^ ^ ^ r :l ■ ST- w■ alu^ | jj ^ ■* 3 ^ .V L.. .■i*%..^ V" ;*_--, AN HISTOEICAL DISCOURSE ON THE OCCASION OP 06^ W^t Cattatnid CHcirittion OF THE BATTLE OF LAKE GEORGE, 1755. DELIVERED AT THE COTTRT-HOUSE, CAIDWEIL. N. Y., SEPTEMBEE 8, 1866, CORTLANDT VAN RENSSELAER. WITH NOTB8 AND A MAP. 'S>\ \o>. '^-n- r ''/ PHILADELPHIA, 1856. V \^— ^ ^1 } I \ i h i-) : 5 V -1 ■ ' ! 1 1: I • i r^Mw^i^w^w^w^ifiWi E^ Iff ■y^7 The avails of the sale of this Historical Discourse will he appropriated toimrds the erection of the projected Monuments AT Laice George and vicinity. Tho reader is referred to Note XXVII. in the Appendix. btkheotvi'ed by l. johnsox k co. PIlIl.AIIKLt'lllA. C. SHERMAN AND SOK, HllJIIEBS. course will le I Monuments idix. TO THE CITIZENS OE WAHREN COUNTY, AXU ■ THE VISITORS AT LAKE GEORGE, 8^15 Jlistourse - :•■'"'■'>''■': ; ■ -.1. } .'■.. ■'.-,,. OS . 'V THE HISTORY OF LOCAL EVENTS IS KESPEOTFULLY INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR. ■ , III u I » Tins discourse, written nt the Lake IIousb under circumstances not tho most fnvournble to historical and literary labour, is submitted to the public at tho request of tho committee of arranfjcments for tho Centennial Celebration. Tho discourse originally appeared in tho columns of tho Alhani/ Morning ExprcM of September 12th, 1855. A few corrections and additions have been now made, and various notes are appended on topics connected with tho history of events at the lake. Tho author's interest in tho general history may have tempted him to make too copious observations on the military details of the campaign, and on other points investigated in the notes. Utterly opposed to war, except as a last resort in self-defence, he does not wish to be considered as indiscriminately approving all the principles, and much less all tho incidents, of tho Old French War. An historical inquirer, however, may be allowed to investigate subjects of this nature, although they arc in many respects averse from his general views and tastca and out of tho range of his ordinary pursuits. The chief reliance for true history in writing the discourse and notes on tho war has been tho Docvmentary IlUtory of New York, a memorial of legislative wisdom and patronage ; Sir William Johnson's unpuhlishcd manuscripts, a rich mine for patient workmen; Bancrofts History of the United ^S^ates, unrivalled in the power of philosophical discussion, in the extent of historical detail, and in the accuracy of great conclusions; and Dr. Dwight's Travels, full of good things. Various other works were useful j and references to them are made iu the notes. It cannot be supposed that there are no historical errors in this pamphlet ; but it is hoped and believed that they are few, and their correction is solicited. The writer, being on his annual visit of recreation at Lake George, contributed what he could to render the Centennial Celebration interesting and instnictive. A free-will offering on the altar of patriotism, his discourse is laid there, with the wreaths and commemorations of an honest yeomanry and of their sympathizing summer guests. BuKLiNOTOS, N. J., April 17th, 1858. C. V. R. P^fcHbiy mstnnccs not tho I the public at tho Celebration. Alhani/ Morning litions have been I with tho history ted him to make ign, and on other pt as « la»t resort inately approving rench War. An cts of this nature, views and tastca and notes on the )rial of legislative anuscrijUs, a rich States, unrivalled torical detail, and vc/s, full of good them arc made in in this pamphlet j iction is solicited, jorge, contributed ; and instnictive. id there, with the beir sympathizing C. V. R. Pistflrial ^istmxst CiTTZENS OP Warren County and Visitors at the Lake : — The echoes of a hundred years resound throughout the mountain-passes. The roar of provincial cannon thunders amidst the Hash of battle; and, from noon to the setting sun, armies contend for victory ou the shore of tho peaceful and trembling lake. To-day the great events of other generations are marshalled by memory into their original order and commanding position; and as Americans, victorious then, as in a greater conflict, we are assembled to commemorate the triumphs of the olden time. Eighteen hundred and fifty-five sends back to seventeen hundred and fifty-five the congratulations of a century, over the inherit- ance deeded and signed on the battle-field of Lake George on the 8th of September. Lake George and vicinity is the classic ground of the Old French War. Every bill-top threw the shadow of warlike scenes into the lake, and its southern and northern shores were spectators of the decisive events which at length ended in the subjugation of Canada and the prosperity of the old American colonies. A very brief notice of the discovery and antecedent history of the lake will open to us a view of the Old French War and the battles of a former century. It will be my object, as a sort of ranger, to bring some account to you here, at the old head-quarters, of the events that occurred on this field of historical interest. The sun and stars of thousands of years have imaged the glory of God in the crystal waters of the beautiful lake. 5 t siaig»,ma€&i^3&f^:iielit^s^^^i.m^*-t - . f : Ages before the Indinn tracked his path along the mountains or glided his canoo through the depths of the water-valley, this landscape had reality in all the gvace ond grandeur of a divine creation. Before Iroquois, or Saxon, or Celt, looked with delight upon the foliage green of the hills or the emerald green of the lake, nature worshipped hero in festival solitude and silence on the altar dedicated to the well-known (jiod. The history of the lake, like the mist that sometimes covers its waters, obscures iho far distance. # » ♦ "In the horizon of the Past Tho cloudy gumraits of lost cycles rise, Like cumuli, far onward to the point Where distance vanishes in dreaminess." 1 The Indians were the original and undisputed proprietors of this secluded heritage, — the domain of the Six Nations, or Iroquois, including both this and the adjoining lake on the outskirts of their hunting-ground.* The first European or civilized man who is known to have penetrated this glorious Indian reserve was the celebrated Champlain. In 1609, at the head of an expedition of savages from Canada against the Iroquois, he ascended the lake which now bears his name; and in his account of the expedition he refers to the "water- fall" between the two lakes, which he himself " saw," describes this lake as being three or four leagues in length, and mentions the distance from its head to be about four leagues to the river which flows towards the coast of the Almouchiquois, or New England Indians. Having given his own name to the larger lake, which was the scene of his achievements, Cham- plain was content to bequeath to the lesser lake the renown of his own record and an untitled nobility of nature.f The next European who is known to have traversed these regions was Father Jogues, a French Roman Catholic mis- sionary, who, in 1646, was commissioned to ratify the treaty of peace made between the French and the Iroquois. On his way from Canada to the Mohawk, he arrived at the outlet of the smaller lake on the eve of the festival of Corpus Christi, * NoTS I. — See the Appendix. f Note II. J. rfiniih. the mountaiiia watcr-vnlloy, grandeur of a r Celt, looked )r the eineruld 8tival solitude ll-known (jiod. ictimes covers proprietors of ix Nations, or g lake on the European or 1 this glorious In 1G09, at ida against the ars his name; to the "water- saw," describes . and mentions leagues to the iiouchiquois, or 1 name to the ements, Cham- ce the renown iture.f raversed these I Catholic mis- tify the treaty quois. On his t the outlet of Corpus Christi, lOTE II. or sacrament of the fiody of ChriM, and, in commemoration of the event, he gave it the name of St. Sacrament.* From this time not much is known of the annals of the lake, till General William Johnson encamped upon its shores, with his army of provincial soldiers, in 1755. During the interval, however, it is quite certain that the lak«J was more or less used as a channel of interconnnunication with Canada, both in furtherance of friendly commerce and of hostile mili- tary expeditions.f When General Johnson reached the lake, he affirms that "»o house ivas ever h-forc built here, nor a nxl of land cleared." The ancient trees of the forest welcomed the old soldier in their unbroken and waving battalions, and gave him good ground to encamp upon, good lake-wuter to quench his thirst, and a good clear sky for his canopy. The Old French War originated in the long hereditary national animosities between France and England. The British queen and the French monarch exchanged no viisils of royal courtesy in those days; and, instead of banquets and feasting at Windsor and Versailles, martial music and the display of arms were everywhere the mutual salutations. The treaty of Utrecht, made in 1713, guaranteed to England all Nova Scotia, with its ancient limits, and to the Five Nations, as sub- ject to Great Britain, the peaceable enjoyment of all their rights and privileges. The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, in 1748, was so indefinite in its terms, that, although a peace was agreed to, on the basis of the treaty of Utrecht, no settlement was made of the difficulties which had given rise to the war in America. There was a vague agreement that the boundaries in America should remain as they were before the war ; but for a quarter of a century before the war the lines had been the subject of perpetual contention. Thus provision may almost be said to have been made by treaty for the speedy opening of a new campaign, and the fires of war were to be rekindlea on the very altar of peace. What rendered the indefinite terms of the treaty peculiarly exceptionable and unfortunate, was the fact that the French had erected, in 1721, a fort at Crown Point, within territory always claimed by Great Britain and *NoTB III. t Note IV. 1 rsWJfoisfeiiifleaa^Bite.TsaSJ^ .u-_„jS)»(5-«»s.iv*!S4s«i£^S'S*iW3tWi5■«'* 8 ill the Iroquois. So intent, indeed, had France been on territorial aggrandizement, that before the signing of the treaty of Aix- la-Chapelle, in 1748, she had erected nearly twenty forts, besides block-houses and stockade trading-places, on soil claimed by Great Britain.* The peace on her part was merely a truce to prepare more extensive plans of commercial and military operations; and, like the brief interval granted lately for the burial of the dear), at Sebastopol, which the Russians employed to strengthen their fortress, so France, at Aix-la-Chapelle, truced England into inactivity, whilst she herself wove the banner of war and burnished her armour for a long campaign. Without regard to treaty stipulations, France commenced prose- cuting her schemes of aggrandizement, not only in the Ameri- can colonies, but in Nova Scotia, in the East and West Indies, and in the Mediterranean. The object of France in North America was to obtain possession of the great valley of the West, and to connect Canada and Louisiana by a chain of forts and trading-places, and thus hem in the colonies, and, perhaps, eventually gain possession of them and secure a communication for Canada with the ocean through New York. When the Ohio Land Company was chartered, in 1749, with a view to the settle- ment of the territory between the Monongahela and the Kana- wha, the Governor-General of Canada sent an armed band of three hundred men down the Ohio Valley, to retain possession of the country in the name of France, and to expel the English traders from its borders. In every practicable manner, the French aimed at maintaining the vantage-ground which English inactivity had enabled them to seize. They attempted to prose- lyte the Six Nations, to foment disturbances among the Indians in general, to undersell the British traders, to gain possession of Lake Ontario by building a large vessel of war, and still furtner to increase their power they hjid turned their trading- house at Niagara into a fort. The first blood shed by the French within the limits of the old thirteen colonies, in the Old French War, was at the Indian village of Piqua, in Western Ohio, in the year 1752. A contest * Note V. ,«: .—* & fciAtw*.*.* Sfc.i^rtvfliAi.OT.:' -•"•^ass 1 n on territorial treaty of Aix- twenty forts, on soil claimed merely a truce 1 and military I lately for the sians employed Lix-la-Chapelle, rself wove the long campaign, nmenced prose- f in the Ameri- d West Indies, was to obtain md to connect trading-places, jventually gain ion for Canada the Ohio Land r to the settle- 1 and the Kana- armed band of etain possession :pel the English lie manner, the 1 which English empted to prose- ong the Indians gain possession f war, and still d their trading- he limits of the as at the Indian 752. A contest which was to determine the future destiny of the mighty West, thus commenced on its own territory ; and its influence was to be felt throughout Europe, in Asia, and in the West Indies, as well as in North America. In 1753, the French detached a body of twelve hundred men to occupy the Ohio Valley, and the Governor of Virginia despatched George Washington to protest against the invasion. This brave young man, then only twenty-one years of age, traversed the forests of Mary- land and Western Pennsylvania as far as Fort Le Boeuf, which wa» within a few miles of Lake Erie. The French commander of the forces, Le Gardeur de St. Pierre, who was afterwards slain at the battle of Lake George, maintained the right of his sovereign to the soil. In 1764, Washington, now a lieutenant- colonel, was sent with a regiment to protect British rights in the West, and to finish the fort at the forks of the Mononga- hela and Alleghany Rivers; but, after an engagement with Jumonville, he was compelled to retreat to Fort Necessity, to capitulate, and to withdraw the English garrison to the east of the Alleghanies. France, at this time, was dominant through- out the valleys of the Ohio and Mississippi, and England had not in the great West a flag to cast even a shadow on the soil. In June, 1754, the first American Congress met in the city of Albany. Its principal object was to devise measures of defence, and to conciliate the Iroquois Indians, whose sachems assembled at Albany for conference. This first Congress is famous for the Plan of Union it proposed for all the Colonies on the basis of a Federal Government. Benjamin Franklin was the author of the measure, which, however, did not meet with suflBcient favour to secure a trial at that time. The same illustrious man foresaw the future greatness of the country "back of the Appalachian Mountains," and advised the imme- diate organization of two colonies in the West, — the one on Lake Erie, the other in the valley of the Ohio, with its capital on the banks of the Scioto. Franklin, as a statesman, dis- played on this occasion a penetration of intellect as vivid as the lightning which, as a philosopher, was flashed down to him from heaven.* * Note VI. 1= 10 In view of the alarming state of things in the Colonies, England despatched General Braddock, as commander-in-chief, with two regiments of regular troops. War had not yet been openly declared between England and France; but both na- tions were actively pursuing their belligerent plans in anticipa- tion of a speedy crisis.* Braddock arrived in Virginia in the spring of 1755, and summoned a council of the governors of the Colonies at Alexandria. Three expeditions were deter- mined on. The first, under Braddock himself, was to march to the Ohio, obtain possession of Fort Duquesne, and then pro- ceed according to circumstances. The second, under Governor Shirley, was to reduce Fort Niagara, and to maintain possession of Oswego. The third, under General William Johnson, was to take possession of Fort St. Frederick, at Crown Point, and drive the French from the colony of New York. The latter expedition was, perhaps, the most important of the three. The province of New York was more accessible than any other to the enemy; Fort St. Frederick, Fort Niagara, and Fort Presentation, were encroachments upon its immemorial juris- diction; the province was central to the other provinces; its chief city had the finest harbour on the Atlantic coast; and the council-fires of the Six Nations burned at Onondaga, the head-quarters of these influential and brave tribes of Indians.f The rendezvous of both Shirley's and Johnson's expedition was Albany. Most of the troops designed for Johnson's com- mand arrived there before the end of June, and were obliged to remain for some time in camp, waiting for the artillery, boats, provisions, and other necessaries. In the meanwhile, the provincials became discontented with the inactivity of a long encampment; and Major-General Lyman was obliged to make short marches in the line of destination in order to prevent them from disbanding. When he had advanced to the "great carrying-place," he waited for the arrival of General Johnson, and commenced building a fort on the east side of the Hudson, which was afterwards called Fort Edward, «in * War was not declared until the followinff year: by England on the 18th of May, 1756, and by France on the 9th of June, t NOTB VII. *-m. .£^ 1 11 the Colonies, inder-in-chief, not yet been but both na- is in anticipa- rginia in the governors of were deter- s to march to nd then pro- der Governor lin possession Fohnson, was n Point, and , The latter 3f the three, lan any other ra, and Fort emorial juris- provinces; its ic coast; and )nondaga, the ! of Indians.f »'s expedition ahnson's corn- were obliged the artillery, e meanwhile, inactivity of I was obliged 1 in order to advanced to ^al of General e east side of Edward, «iu 18th of May, 1756, honour of thr f nd prince of the blood of that name." On the 8th cf AugL . General Johnson set out from Albany, with the artillery and otiier stores, and reached the "great carrying- place" on the 14th, having been detained two days by some dissatisfaction on the part of the Connecticut troops. On the 22d, a council of war was held to determine what route should be taken to Crown Point; and it was the unanimous opinion of the council that the road to "Lake St. Sacrament appears to them the most eligible, and that it be immediately set about." It was further resolved to send forward two thou- sand men, to cut the road and to build "a place of arms and magazines" at the head of the lake. In addition to the news of Braddock's defeat, which had reached the army about a month before, the spirits of the troops were now depressed by a report that the French were advancing towards Crown Point in overwhelming numbers; and the Indians declared that the English were no match for them, but must be surely defeated. Johnson writes that he ought to have eight thousand men, and that the reinforcements ought to advance as rapidly as possible. On the 26th of August, Johnson sets out for Lake St. Sacra- ment, a distance of about seventeen miles; and, after three day's marching, reaches there, or rather here, on the evening of the 28th. What a sight was such a lake to an army of men that had never before looked upon its mountain-guarded waters! Often did Johnson, and Lj'man, and Williams, and Hendrick, with their companions-in-arms, gaze with wonder at a scene whose enchantments are fresh with the morning light and renewed with" the setting sun. " Alas ! boaido that beauteous wave Shall many an unrcturning bravo Find his last bivouac — the grave ! In his lost home his name grow dim, And low woods sigh his requiem!" The name of the lake was changed by Johnson from St. Sacrament to Lake George, "not only in honour to his Ma- jesty, but to ascertain his undoubted dommion here" — a name now become historical, and properly enough commemorative « " ■n M W Bfte.'.fcM'*"' (■■ 12 of provincial times, and of the important events that occurred under the reigning king."' The plan of operations arranged by General Johnson was to construct a fort, proceed up the lake with a part of the army, as soon as the boats arrived, and take possession of Ticon- deroga; and, waiting there until the rest of the army came up, proceed to attack Crown Point. On the evening of the 7th of September, however, the Indian scouts bring intelligence that they had discovered a large road cut from South Bay, and were confident that a considerable number of the enemy were marching to the "great carrying-place." Johnson, surprised and perplexed, perhaps doubts the report. About midnight intelligence comes that the enemy were discovered four miles this side of the "carrying-place." Nothing, however, was done for the safety of Fort Edward until the next morning, when a council was called. In the language of General John- eon, " the Indians were extremely urgent that one thousand men should be detached, and a number of their people would go with them, in order to catch the enemy in their retreat from the other camp, either as victors, or defeated in their design." The enemy proved to be a French force of nearly two thou- sand men, regulars, Canadians, and Indians, under the com- mand of Baron Dieskau. This French general had arrived at Quebec in the spring, with nearly two thousand regular troops. His original plan was to proceed up the river St. Lawrence to Lake Ontario, and to capture the fort at Oswego. But Montreal was so much alarmed at the neWs of an English army on its march to Fort Frederick, and perhaps into Canada, that the Baron was importuned to proceed to the defence of Fort Frederick, which he finally cpnsented to do, with great reluctance. Having waited some time for the approach of the English army, he determined to go and meet them himself His scheme was bold and precise. He was to attack Fort Edward first, which Avas defended by a garrison of only four hundred men; then to fall upon the camp at Lake George, where victory was supposed to be within his reach, as the camp was reported to be destitute of either artillery or in- . » Note VIII. KSti„ ;hat occurred hnson was to of the army, )n of Ticon- my came up, )f the 7th of lligence that th Bay, and enemy were )n, surprised 3ut midnight }d four miles owever, was ext morning, Jeneral John- me thousand people would retreat from leir design." rly two thou- der the corn- had arrived isand regular the river St. ft at Oswego, of an English I into Canada, le defence of o, with great proach of the them himself. I attack Fort I of only four Lake George, reach, as the I'tillery or in- ^.-— sx'j.--:*,.. trenchments; and afterwards desolate Albany and Schenec- tady, and cut off communication with Oswego. It seems, however, that when Dieskau was within two miles of Fort Edward, the Indians refused to attack it, on account of their peculiar dread of cannon ; but, on their declaring a willingness to attack the camp, Dieskau changed his plans and turned towards the lake. It is Sabbath-day in the provincial camp. The bustle of war does not prevent the arrival of wagons, work at the fort, and preparations for the campaign. But God is not forgotten by all. A venerable chaplain,* whose locks are white with age, is seen taking his station in the shade of the forest-trees. He is the chaplain of Williams' regiment, the third regiment of Massachusetts, and Williams is there. With him are Buggies, and Titcomb, and Whiting, and other officers. The soldiers of New England attend with reverential appearance ; and Hendrick and a band of Iroquois loiter in the distance, with their eyes turned to the assembly. After singing, — per- haps the 46th psalm, to the tune of "Old Hundred," — prayer is offered up to the God of their fathers. The Puritan preacher then takes for his text the words of Isaiah : — " which remain among the graves and lodge in the mountains." Were these words, alas! prophetic? Let us turn to the narrative. The detachment of one thousand provincial troops, de- spatched to arrest Dieskau's progress and to aid Fort Edward, was commanded by Colonel Epuraim Williams, of Massachu- setts. It set out between eight and nine o'clock on Monday morning, and consisted ot' three divisions. Colonel Williams starts in advance with the first division of five hundred men, halts at Bocky Brook, about half a mile from the place where the attack occurred, and waits for the other divisions under Hendrick and Lieutenant-Colonel Whiting. The Indians soon follow, in command of the great Mohawk chief. Being ad- vanced in years and corpulent in person, he rides on horse- back. Erect in the dignity of a noble Indian presence, the old sachem has cast his last look on the lake, and taken the road into the forest in pursuit of the enemy. During this halt of Colonel ' * The Rev. Stephen Williams, of Longmcadow, Massachusetts. u Williams, the enemy place themselves in ambuscade. Our party then march forward, the Indians leading the way, and enter the defile. One of the enemy's muskets going ofl' pre- maturely, they are discovered, and immediately they com- mence the attack on our Indians. The warwhoop resounds through the woods, and volleys of musketry from the Abenakis Indians on the left and from the regulars in front strew the ground with the dying. The brave old Hmdrick falls, — a con- spicuous mark tO men of unerring aim. The Mohawks, un- certain and alarmed, move back to where Colonel Williams is, a short distance behind; and at the same moment our troops march up to their support. The engagement becomes general. At this time, in the early part of the engagement, Colonel Williams mounts a rock for the purpose of recon- noitoring ; and, in the act of ordering his men to go higher up the hill on the right, he is immediately shot down. It soon became evident to our officers that the French had posted themselves on both sides of the road for the purpose of sur- rounding and cutting off the detachment. A retreat was, therefore, ordered, which was conducted with consummate ^kill by Lieutenant-Colonel Whiting, of New Haven, who had previously distinguished himself at the taking of Louisburg, Nova Scotia. The firing had been heard at the camp, about two hours after the departure of the detachment. It drew nearer and nearer. Our men were retreating; and General Johnson orders Lieutenant-Colonel Cole, at th^ head of three hundred men, to cover the retreat, which was accomplished with some success. Although defeated by superior numbers, our men had fought bravely. Rallying for a short time be- iiind the Bloody Pond, they brought many of the enemy to the earth. It was afterwards found that nearly one half of the killed on both sides had fallen in the desperate preliminary encounter of the morning. The Americans were encamped about a quarter of a mile from the head of the lake, being protected on either side by a low thick-wooded swamp. After the march of the detach- ment. General Johnson drew up some heavy cannon from the margin of the lake, a distance of about five hundred yards buscade. Our the way, and going ofl' pre- tly tliey com- hoop resounds 1 the Abenakis Tont strew the k falls, — a con- Mohawks, un- tonel Williams 3 moment our jment becomes e engagement, pose of recon- go higher up lown. It soon ch had posted purpose of sur- \. retreat was, h consummate aven, who had ; of Louisburg, ae camp, about lent. It drew ; and General head of three s accomplished >erior numbers, short time be- the enemy to I'ly one half of ate preliminary arter of a mile either side by of the detach- nnon from the hundred yards 15 from his front. Trees were also felled to form a breastwork, the proper intrenchments having been unaccountably neglected. On some of the eminences to the left, where Fort George now stands, cannon were drawn up and advantageously posted. After these hurried preparations of a few hours, our retreatmg soldiers come in sight in large bodies, witR the enemy in full pursuit. Among those who climb the intrenchments, Hendrick and Williams are not seen. All is confusion. But, behold, Dieskau halts! For nearly fifteen minutes, when witlnn one hundred and fifty yards of the encampment, the French general, instead of making a bold advance upon the Imes, which the disorder of the retreating corps might have made successful, is compelled to pause, as though Providence had issued to him a superior command. The cause of this delay is not fully ascertained. It may have been owing either to the surprise at finding artillery arrayed against him, and the conse- quent difficulty of bringing the Indians up to the conflict; or it may have been with the view of giving time for the Canadians and Indians to get on either flank and make a simultaneous attack with the regulars posted on the centre. Whatever was the cause of the delay, it probably lost Dieskau the victory. The provincials had time to rally and to reduce their plan of defence to better order; and, when the French opened their fire, the distance was too great to produce much eflect. The artillery of the provincials gave them an advantage in the battle. It wa^ served by Captain William Eyres, an English officer despatched by General Braddock to accompany the expedition. The battle at the camp began between eleven and twelve o'clock; and the wonder is that the French, with inferior numbers and without artillery, could sustain the con- flict for more than four hours. The attack on the centre by the regulars was obstinately persevered in for more than an hour. This proving unavailing, Dieskau then attacked the right, where, on account of there being no cannon, there seemed a better prospect of success. A heavy loss of the provincials occurred in this quarter, in the regiments of Tit- comb, Ruggles, and Pomroy; but their bravery corresponded with the emergency, and the enemy could gain no advantage M i'f v. ^Mii^. 16 -*: in that direction. In their attempt to pass over the intrench- ments, the old-fashioned musket, in the hands of bnive New England farmers, did terrible work. The battle on the right raged for nearly two hours, when Dieskau again attacked the front, and then the right and the left, and at last attempted to come in on the fear of the army, when General Lyman, perceiving the danger, ordered some shells to bo thrown, which, together with the fire of some thirty-two pounders, made the enemy retire in great disorder. The Indians, who, at an early period in the battle, had taken possession of the rising ground near where Fort William Henry now stands, were soon terrified by shots from a cannon which was in position on one of the eminences near Fort George. After a long con- flict, sustained chiefly by the regulars, the French begin to fly. Victors in the morning, the survivors hurry back at the setting sun, vanquished, wearied, and dreading their doom. Dieskau, severely wounded, is taken prisoner. t As the English neglected to pursue, the French halted about three miles from the camp, near Bloody Pond and Rocky Brook, where the engagement of the morning had been renewed. The halt at this particular spot seems to have been partly owing to the desire of the Indians to obtain plunder and to secure the scalps of those who had fallen in the early engage- ment; but it is a busy day, and they must think of their own scalps. At seven o'clock in the evening, a reinforcement from Fort Edward of two hundred men falls unexpectedly upon them, under the command of Captain William McGinncM, of Schenectady. After a contest of two hours, our party gained possession of the baggage and ammunition of the French, which was conveyed to the camp the next morning; and the French retreated still fiirther towards Lake Champlain, learning the danger of encamping for the night too near their foe. The victory was decisive. If the enemy had been pursued without delay, the whole body might have been cut off" and made prisoners. General Johnson's first error was in neglecting an immediate and vigorous pursuit. General Lyman urged it with unusual vehemence, and the spirit of officers and men, wj'^^Ba^ the intronch- af bnive Now on the right attacked the t attempted to leral Lyman, ) be thrown, wo pounders, Indians, who, session of the V stands, were IS in position 3r a long con- nch begin to y back at the their doom. rench halted id and Rocky )een renewed. been partly under and to early engage- of their own "cement from ectedly upon McGinneti, of party gained the French, lorning ; and 3 Champlain, ;ht too near been pursued I cut off and in neglecting man urged it 3rs and men, r 17 aroused by war and flushed by triumph, was equal to the endurance. When the tide of battle is once turned, it sweeps against the vanquished with terrific impetuosity. If that tide in our aflairs had been taken at its flood, it might have Ipd our army to the double fortune of a victory on the battle-field and the capture of the enemy in their flight. Instead of pur- suing, our army retired to their encampment on the shores of the tideless lake, content, like it, with repose after the surges of the day. General Johnson excused his conduct by the plea that ho had reason to expect a renewal of the attack, and that it was dangerous to weaken the main body by detachments to scour the country. But the enemy was in no condition to rally after the loss of their General and of almost all the regular soldiers; and the true way to strengthen the main position of the victors was to take advantage of the enemy's defeat by throwing out detachments to cut them off before reaching their boats on Lake Champlain. The enemy were far more fatigued than the Americans, in consequence of their forced marches towards the camp; and there can be little doubt that, had the opinion of General Lyman and other ofiicers prevailed, Dieskau's band would never have seen Ticonderoga or Fort St. Frederick. General Johnson's second capital error was in not carrying forward with alacrity the immediate object of his expedition — which was the reduction of Crown Point. The idea seems early to have gained entrance into the General's mind that the victory at Lake George was glory enough for one campaign. Only ten days after the battle, on the 18th, he writes that it is doubtful whether the expedition can advance to Ticonderoga this year. At a council of war, however, held four days lattr, the officers unanimously decided that it was best to proceed as soon as the expected reinforcements had arrived. Governor Shirley remonstrated with Johnson against his reluctance to push forward his army, and, in a letter to him dated the 25th of September, says: — "If nothing further could be done in this campaign than gaining Ticonderoga, yet that would be carrying a great point for the protection of the country behind, 2 18 I lit' I nil f: ; this year, and facilitation of the reduction of Fort St. Frede- rick the next spring."* Whilst waiting for reinforcements, it was decided to build a fort the oflicers being in favour of u tjuiall stockade fort, capable of holding one hundred men, whilst Johnson desired the erection of a large one, capable of defence agcinst an army with artillery. Finally, Johnson's plan was adopted. The months of September and October passed away in sending out scouts and in fort-building, until the men became dispirited, wearied, and desirous of returning home. Towards tlie end of October, the council of officers decided that, on account of the lateness of the season, the disaffection of the soldiers, and the want of supplies, it was inexpedient to proceed with the expedition. At this time there were four thousand five hun- dred men in the camp. The great objects of the army were thus unaccomplished, and, instead of occupying Ticonderoga, which of itself would have been an important position in advance, the delay enabled the enemy to gain possession of it and fortify it, greatly to our subsequent loss and disad- vantage. Notwithstanding General Johnson's apparent errors in not taking full advantage of his victory, it is certain that the battle of Lake George has points of honourable distinction, worthy of a centennial commemoration. Considering its time and circumstances, the battle of Lake George had a number of distinguished men to give character to the conflict. On the side of the enemy, who took the aggressive on the occasion, was Baron de Dieskau, an officer of some"^ distinction in the armies of France. He had been selected as a commander able to take charge of the important work of superintending the military operations of the empire in the Western World. " Boldness wins" was Dieskau's maxim. This he exemplified, at least in part, in marching with about two thousand men to find the enemy, and into the very centre of our military operations. Fortunately for us, " boldness" did not " win" on that occasion. Dieskau, at the head of his forces, *NOTE IX. i fattg ri jiOirtrtH*™*. i f nrj ■« ort St. Frede- dod to build a Btockado lort, ilinson desired jcinst an army idopted. The n sending out me dispirited, ivarda the end on account of e soldiers, and )ceed with the sand five hun- tlie army were ; Tieonderoga, nt position in I possession of jss and disad- t errors in not rtain that the ble distinction, battle of Lake give character who took the 5KAU, an officer He had been the important i of the empire eskau's maxim. ling with about the very centre "boldness" did ad of his forces, '"--M^n-mnaf'^^^^f^i 19 employs in vain strategy and military skill. The language of France and its crown-lilies of white are unheeded and dis- honoured in the forests of America. The bravo general receives a deadly wound; and he who had rallied battalions on the fields of Europe, and had sailed up the St. Lawrence and Lake Champlain with the ambition to win a fame in the Now World, sits upon a stump, in the midst of his slain, with hopes blasted, projects thwarted, army defeated, wounded in body and in spirit, and with the doom of death darkly before his eye. Dieskau, after his capture, informed General Johnson that, only a few hours before, he had written to the Governor- General of Canada that he was driving the English before him like sheep, and that he expected that night to lodge in General Johnson's tent. The expectation was verified; as prisoner, and not victor, Dieskau entered the American camp, and, instead of the congratulations of victory, he received the honest sympathies of American soldiers towards a defeated and wounded general, carried within their intrenchments on a blanket. After the lapse of a century, those sympathies remain fresh and unimpaired. Honour to the memory of the gallant and unfortunate Dieskau!* Another of the distinguished men in the French army was Le Gardeur de St. Pierre. He was a brave officer, and re- markable for the 2.eal and energy with which he advanced the interests of his king, especially among the Indians, with whom he had very great influence. He had confronted Washington three years before at Fort Le Boeuf, which was constructed in Western Pennsylvania for the maintenance of the claims of France. It was chiefly through his instrumentality that the Indians of Dieskau's expedition were gathered together and organized. He received his death-wound in the forests in the morning, and his earthly greatness came to an end in the battle of September 8th, 17o5.t On the English side. General Johnson, the commander-in- chief, was a distinguished character in the province. He had been superintendent of Indian affairs for several years, and possessed an acute mind and executive talents of a high order. • Note X. t Note XI. I ; ? (*as»iS^&*si»?i-?'-*» I ',1 1 i 20 Ilis privnto morals were bad; but, like other public men of that day and thiH, his moral demerit wan, unfortunately, no bar to luH public renown. The King of Great Britain con- ferred on liim a baronetcy, and Parliament voted a tribute to his triumph of jGr>()0(). The name of Sir William Johnson will go down to posterity with titled honours and military dis- tinction.* Major-Goncral Lymav, tho real hero of the battle in the estimation of some, directed the movements of the provincial army the greater part of the day. Tho command had de- volved upon him in consequence of a wound received by General Johnson in the early part of the engagement, which compelled him to withdraw to his tent. Lyman was in the thickept of the fight, and guided the movements of the field with discretion and energy. He was an accomplished, edu- cated man, high in rank at the bar, a civilian of some emi- nence, and deserves well of his country for his military services on September 8, 1755. It is not to the credit of General Johnson that ho does not even mention the name of General Lyman in the official account of the battle. Nor was it very courteous in Johnson to change the name of Fort Lyman, at the carrying-place, to Fort Edward, which ho did only a few days after the battle.f Colonel EriiRAiM Williams was a prominent actor in the scenes we commemorate. In the former war of 1744, he commanded the line of forts on the ' western side of the Connecticut River, and resided principally at Fort Massachu- setts, which was about three miles east of what is now Williamstown. In passing through Albany, on his way to the seat of war, he made his will on the 22d of July. After giving certain legacies to his relatives, he bequeathed the remainder of his property to the founding of a free-school on the western frontiers of Massachusetts, at a place which re- ceived the name of Williamstown, in honour of the donor. In 1790, the sum had accumulated to nearly $20,000; $G000 of which Avas used, with a similar amount from other sources, in erecting a large building for the academy. In 1793, the * Note XII. t Note XIII. 21 ublic men of rtunately, no Britain con- l a tribute to iam JuhnHon niilitary dia- battle in the he provincial and had de- received by ement, which n waa in the I of the field plished, edu- of some emi- his mihtary :ho credit of the name of le. Nor was ame of Fort vhich ho did actor in the of 1744, he side of the rt Massachu- vhat is now his way to July. After jueathed the ree-school on ee which re- le donor. In )0; $G000of er sources, in n 1793, the OIE XIII. academy was chartered by the State as n college, and wna calK'd Williams College. iL was a grciit thought in the mind of Williams to establisli an instil uHon of learning. His fame rests upon a more emluring rock than the reconnoitering- stone of a military officer; and his monument if< seen, not merely by glances in a mountain-ravine, but on the Iiigliway of nations and in the heathen as well as the civilized world. It was Williams College that sent out the fust American missionaries to Asia; and her graduates have the honour of originating the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. The alumni of the College hist year erected a tasteful monument to the memory of its founder. His remains were disinterred some twenty years ago. A stone, with the initials E. W., 1755, marks the original place of his burial, which was a few rods south of the monument, on the western side of the old road.'" Old Hendrick, the Mohawk sachem, fell in the battle of Lake George. He was the greatest Indian chief of his day. Sagacity and moderation were the basis of his character. Brave in the field, he was wise in council. Ilis integrity was incorruptible; and his friendship to the American colonies, whose chain was consecrated at council-fires^ was strengthened in the heat of trial. Two characteristic anecdotes are told of him, as incidents of the battle of September 8th, 1755. His opinion being asked in regard to the number of men at first proposed for the detachment of the morning, he replied, " If to fight, too few ; if to be killed, too many." The number was accordingly increased ; but General Johnson proposed to send them out in three divisions. Hendrick took three sticks, and, putting them together, said, " Put these sticks together, and you can't break them ; take them one by one, and you will break them easily." Previously to the setting out of the detachment, Hendrick harangued his people in strains of fervid eloquence. He was among the earliest killed. He had advanced so far into the ambuscade that the fire from the Hank hit him in the back. He was at the head of the In- dians, as represented in Blodget's view of the battle, and must » Note XIV. ''«''*=^''~~*'^««S«<&!J&a)tet:««i^^ . 11 Imve fallen several hundred yards in advance of Williams; probably a third of the way between the monument and the present toll-gate. The Indians on our side sustained the chiet attack of the morning. Out of two hundred men they lost nearly one-fourth, and every one of their officers. They com- plained to General Johnson that they had been sacrificed by the backwardness of our men. The sticks mentioned by old Hendrick had not been tied closely enough together.* ^ Israel Putnam, who afterwards became a ftimous general in the American Revolution, and who shared with Warren and Stark the glories of Bunker Hill, was a private soldier in the battle of Lake George. He was one of Williams men m the detachment of the morning. Lake George was- a trainmg- place of his future greatness. He was frequently employed, after the battle, in reconnoitering the enemy. He was the ranger of the lake. He was the scout of the mountain. His eye could detect an Indian's trail, and take unerring sight with his old musket at any mark worthy the snap of the flint. The rotund, jovial figure of "Old Put" has been often imaged in the waters of the lake and shadowed along the mountam- glens; and, in the regiment of Lyman, no man did heavier work than he on the 8th of September, 1755.t The famous John Stark was in the army, as lieutenant; but as the New Hampshire regiment was stationed for the defence of Fort Edward, it is probable that Stark was on duty there, and not in the battle. , , .n ^ u Other distinguished officers and men were on the battle-faeld, and among them was the brave Colonel Titcomb, who was the only officer killed in the encampment, and whose regiment, posted on the extreme right, was obliged to sustain the brunt of Dieskau's attack on that side. The graves of Titcomb McGinnis, and the other officers who fell, are, no doubt, with us to this day; and, although the dark oblivion of a century intercepts their individual recognition, tradition points the present generation to the "officers' graves."t Let us now notice some of the circumstances which gave to ♦Note XV. fNoTKXVI. J Note XVII. ^_j_l j u iniii»lin»iii»'«ifejS-, ■, -jiJ^i^iSftiiiSsaBtiwfe"' 24 position and fame, and was hailed as the means of deliverance from a bold and cruel foe. Few battles ever produced more immediate results in rekindling patriotic and martial enthu- siasm. Congratulations poured in upon General Johnson from every quarter. Not only were the colonies filled with re- joicing, but the influence of the triumph went over to Eng- land, and the deeds of our fathers at the camp of Lake George became familiar to the ears of Koyalty and were applauded by the eloquence of Parliament. The moral effects of a battle m which the forces arrayed against each other were compara- tively small have rarely been greater and more decided in the whole range of military annals. III. Viewed simply in a military aspect, the battle of Lake George was the mly successful achievement, within the thirteen colonics, during tU campaign of 1755; which is another item of its various renown. Braddock's defeat on the Monongahela, and Shirley's retreat from Oswego, brought ruin upon the expe- ditions framed for the reduction of Forts Duquesne and Nia- gara. Although the northern expedition failed in its object of reducing Fort Frederick, it had a show of glory in the brilliant success of a hard-fought battle. Success in one direction often overbalances disappointment in another. The victory of Gene- ral Johnson was the great event of the campaign of 1755, soli- tary in the honours of its military triumph, and shining out, bright as Mars, from the clouds of night. IV. The victory of Lake George occurred in the series of campaigns that ended in the conquest of Canada and of tU valley oftlue Great West. Here, in the forest, was the base of a line of operations on which were wrought out great problems of war. The mountains of the lake were landmarks to con- duct our armies from summit to summit of achievement, until, passing over all barriers, they found their resting-place in the valleys of St. Lawrence and Mississippi. Unknown results of territorial acquisition, and of political and religious destiny, lay concealed in the expedition which started for the capture of a single fort on Lake Champlain and for the defence of the limited boundary-line of a province. God disposes of man's proposals. The lucid purposes of an all-comprehensive Provi- I > '-rngsB^txts^mm ■.ji i lU Mi i i wK Hirni miw I ll l W ii iWiw-iiw ^ & "1 deliverance >duced more irtial enthu- ohnson from ed with re- ver to Eng- Lake George ipplauded by if a battle in jre coihpara- ecided in the ittle of Lake 1 the thirteen mother item ilonongahela, )on the expe- me and Nia- i its object of I the brilliant irection often itory of Gene- of 1755, soli- shining out, the series of a and of tJie I the base of a reat problems narks to con- vement, until, g-place in the iwn results of IS destiny, lay he capture of efence of the loses of man's tiensive Provi- 25 dence, undiscemible by mortal eyes, are brought to pass by the majestic developments of events apparently remote in their relations as trivial in their magnitude. The American victory of Lake George was not an isolated item of one campaign. It was more than a simple triumph in an unbroken wilderness, a military achievement of the New England and New York yeomanry which saved themselves from destruction. Far higher its moral, political, and warlike connections. It headed a series of successes that were followed by the gain of king- doms. It animated the determination of the country to take decisive measures for deliverance from French aggressions and agitations. "Canada, my lord," wrote a distinguished New Yorker, in reviewing the operations of the campaign, " Canada must be demolished,— i)e?e«c?a est Carthago,— or wo are un- done."* The result was not anticipated at the beginning, but the natural tendency of the contest was the overthrow of French dominion on the continent. Johnson's victory had a true influence of relation to this end. As the southern inlet near Fort George joins itself to the lake, whose waters flow to the north, and, tossed over cascades and waterfalls, pass into the St. Lawrence, so the expedition of 1755, identifying itself with a vast expanse of agencies, pressed forward the natural current of its direction, over the rocks and reverses of cam- paigns, into Canada. But Canada was only a part of the great acquisitions of the war. The whole Northwest was wrested from France, together with the valley of the Mississippi lying easterly of that river, with the exception of the island of Or- leans. Thus we stand to day at one of the fountain-neads of American destiny .f V. The battle of Lake George was furthermore memorable in its suggestions of provincial prowess, and in its lessons of tcar- fare to t/ie colonies preparatory to their independence. The battle was fought by provincial troops, and chiefly by the hardy sons of glorious New England. The veteran regulars of Old England had been beaten in the forests of Western Pennsylvania, or remained inactive in the Niagara expedition. Through some unaccountable cause, the expedition, wliich was * Review of MiUtary Operationa, &c., p. 143. ' f Notk XIX. "^''^f^mm^^mmm'- .^t^^imHi^ft^^sii^iiKB^' ' i. ii ( 16 on the direct line to Canada, and nearest to the F'^nch rein- forcements, known to be at hand, was consigned to the exclu- sive care of native colonial soldiers; and bravely d.d they do their duty. On these shores provincial prowess signalized its seirrelying and unaided capabilities: and in this battle and m t^s war W colonies practically learned the value of union and the unconquerable energies of a free people. Putnam, and Stark, and Pomeroy, came here, as to a military academy to acqui;e the art of warfare; and they all exercised their expe- rience at Bunker Hill. George Washington himself, as a military man, was nurtured for America and the world amid 1 forests of the Alleghanies and the rifles and tomahawks of these French and Indian struggles. Lake George and Sara- toga are contiguous not merely in territory, but m heroic association. Correlative ideas, evolved "»«if_T«;3-S. -^^"^; stances, they are proofs of the same spirit of liberty, the same strong energy of purpose, .•And courage quailing not, thougli hosts oppose." The battle^nes of the Old French War and of the Kevolution a^ matoh-pictu^s in the gallery of history, to J* h-ded d„™ tOKether to all generations. The influence of the Old F.ench War, as the training-field of the American Kevolufon was in- calculably great. During all this period, too, a poht.cal con- ffict was going on in almost all the provinces, between the.r relativ! bodies and the commissioners of the plantations in England; so that, while resisting from principle what were regarded as arbitrary exactions, the colonies were becoming conversant with their own military and political streng h, which was laying itself up in store for the crisis of revolu- ^:Tw 7:herconsiderations, the battle of Lake George well deserves some prominence in the country's annals. A few words about the tokts must not be omitted on tbis historical occasion. , t i • t. Fort WiLUA>c Henhy was built by General Johnson just a century ago. The original site of the encampment extended French rein- to the exclu- ly did they do signalized its I battle and in alue of union Putnam, and •y academy, to 2d their expe- himself, as a [le world amid lid tomahawks lorge and Sarar but in heroic arying circura- erty, the same the Revolution )e handed down he Old French olution, was in- a political con- !, between their > plantations in iple what were were becoming litical strength, crisis of revolu- of Lake George i annals. omitted on this •al Johnson just mpment extended BQj-MWWitai -,nfjlwi!M^— Mil 27 from the lake a quarter of a mile, or upwards, with the old road as the centre, being flanked by the marshy laud, and having the irregular eminences, on one of whicli Fort Gcorgo was afterwards built, as part ot the encampment. A few days before the battle, the site where Fort William Henry now stands was selected for the building of a picketed fort, to con- tain one iiundred men, and Colonel Williams was charged with its erection, under the management of Captain Eyres, the engineer. General Johnson. was from the beginning opposed to a picketed fort, and in favour of a regular military structure, capable of resisting artillery. This contest between Johnson and his oflicers was probably the index of opposite views in regard to the campaign at that time, — Johnson wishing to remain at Lake George and construct a large fortification, while the oflicers aimed at putting up a temporary defence and proceeding at once to Ticonderoga and Crown Point. After a contest of nearly a month, during which time General Johnson managed to secure the opinion of the general-in-chief and the acting governor of the State in favour of his views, and it becoming evident that the expedition could not advance this season, the council of officers agreed to change the plan of a small stockade fort into a more regular work, capable of holding five hundred men. This opinion was arrived at on the 29th of September, and the new fortification was imme- diately commenced, prosecuted with some vigour, and finished in about two months. The name William Henry was given by General Johnson "in ho-^our of two of the royal family." The site of the fort always had opponents. It was " fiiulted by Montressor, the chief-engineer;" and General Johnson was early obliged to vindicate it from the objections still pre- vailing. -^ The history of Fort William Henry is a short and mournful one. It capitulated, after a brave defence, to the French general, Montcalm, on the 9th of August, 1757, and a large part of the garrison were inhumanly massacred by the Indians. The vestiges that remain are hallowed by ancient recollections; and the proprietors of the soil have patriotically determined U^iM^fi&^ia^d^ei^ifiiif ..■laaiaiajKL- ii . »i^^ 28 that the site shall be forever reserved and kept free from the encroachments of modern improvement/" , ,„ ^ ^ , The eminence at Fort Geohge was " hncd out by Genera Abercrombic in 1758-the year following the destruction of Fort William Henry; but the mason-work was not built until the following year, 1759, by the army under General Amhersu Its site was part of Johnson's original encampment. It was also the encampment of a division of Colonel Monroes army when Fort William Henry capitulated. The garrison at that time embraced about five hundred men, ^f f « ;^"^^'*^»^,^"^?,": ' around the eminence held seventeen hundred One of the hrst things that Montcalm did was to post a large detachment on the road to the south, for the purpose of cutting off supplies from the rear and of harassing the communication between the intrench- ments and the fort. The eminence was intrenched by General Abercrombie, after his defeat at Ticonderoga.f In tha dis- astrous action the English had about two thousand men killed and wounded. One of the Highland regiments, comma^iaed by the gallant Colonel Grant, went into the action eight hundred strong, and came out with the loss of nearly one-half. The Presbyterian clergyman, before the engagement ended his few remarks by saying, "My lads, I ha'e nae time for Jang preachments; a' I ha'e to say is, nae cowards gae to heaven. Fort George has no special renown on the pages of history.? Fort gIge was built in 1759, while General Amherst was at the lake. It was named in honour of General Gage, who commanded the light infantry. Gage was with Braddock at the time of his defeat. He afterwards received the appointment of general, and subsequently was governor of Massachusetts,- the last provincial governor that the old Bay State allowed in her councils.§ , , , The battles, the forts, the intrenchments, the ruins, the roads,l| the graves, of this vicinity, are all memorials of the Old French War. That war resulted in the most important conquests. It was, in fact, a war of Protestar I u^' Inst Roman * Note XX. g NOTB XXIU. f Note XXI. X Note XXII. II Note XXIV. -i:>^lil*jK. i^-.v -.^^vil.-x^i;- ■ , --.- rtgg*EK ffT^ ** «* H. ^. "fSfViii::^ -t 'ree from the t" by General action of Fort ailt until the iral Amherst, lent. It was [onroe's army rrison at that intrenchments )ne of the first jhment on the Dplies from the I the intrench- led by General In that dis- ,nd men killed ;ommand,ed by eight hundred one-half. The nt, ended his time for lang ae to heaven." of history .J \.mherst was at ral Gage, who h Braddock at he appointment assachusetts, — Itate allowed in the ruins, the emorials of the most important . uo-Inst Roman X Note XXII. II Note XXIV. .,\^v ju.5ei»«er*is»*«»':-^ 29 Catholic Cliristianity; and on its issues the destiny of the mighty valleys of the West was pre-eminently dependent. God raised up William Pitt, "the great Commoner," to preside oyer the afHiirs of England at this critical period ; and through his glorious administration, commencing in 1757, England recovered her position among the nations and resumed her wonted superiority on the continent. Prussia was the only power that struggled with her, side by side, against tlie common foe. The greatest trophies won by England during the war were in this Western World. The possession of Canada and the peaceable enjoyment of her North American colonies were rewards worthy the struggle of an Anglo-Saxon kingdom.* The peace of 17C3 enabled King George III., who had recently ascended the throne, to carry out his design of over- awing the colonies by arbitrary power. William Pitt, the man of the people, resigned his office, and a diflerent policy prevailed. The American Revolution ensued, and France, our former colonial enemy, became our effective ally against Eng- land. The Revolutionary War is naturally the one that most deeply stirs the heart of our patriotism; and 177G, the liberty- epoch in American annals, has a national priority over every other historical period. Yet not in vain does 1755 claim honour in these regions of the lake. Here the associations of the Old French War predominate ; and history, interrogating nature, learns from mountain, and lake, and water-brook, and plain, that armies here fought for the rights of crowns and for vast territorial domains. thou Lake, islet-decked as with gems for maiden beauty, and intelligent, in the depth of thy clear waters, in scenes of the olden time, we hail thee to-day, Reminiscencer and Teacher! And you, ye Mountains, where come the four seasons, mon- archs of the solitude, to pay the tribute of the year,— hail to you for the sight of your majestic presence, for the voiced memories of a century, for your glens reverberating with solemn sound the aijhievements of our sires! Ye Forts, weak in triple confederacy, the work of man and the contrivance of war, we * Note XXV. »^i^b^^i«0as'<" ..JJ tail i'' r IF? 30 rejoice that your mission is over, and that yc stand like antinuarians with reUcs in yonr hands rather than as warriors equipped for the battle-field ! And you, ye Graves, mounding hill-top and i)lain, scarcely distinguishable from the furrows of the harvest-field,— ah ! Death, who digs deeper than the plough, has sewn in you the seeds of resurrection,— seeds which the storms of centuries do but harrow for the reaping at the hi-gathering time ; ye are fertile with the bodies of men ; and, when earth shall be buried in the ruins of its final doom, ye shall bring forth your tenants clothed with immortality !* Every view of the lake and every pass of the hills have some tradition of ancient deed and story which this day com- memorates. In the midst of the scenes of our historical festival, let us use our patriotic emotions in perpetuating the records of the past century in some consistent and enduring form. I venture to propose that a monument be erected at the old hittle-fiehl of Lake George, on one side of which an appro- priate memorial of the contest shall be engraved, and on another side an epitaph to the courageous Colonel Titcomb and the other officers who died in defending their country. I also venture to suggest that another monument be erected to the memory of Hendrick, the famous Mohawk chieftain, near the spot where he is supposed to have fallen. Monuments are of great public use. They are pages of history to the people; they are the rallying-points of earnest patriotism; they are records of national gratitude; they are memorials of God's providential intei-position ; they are pleasing objects of sight to the spectator and traveller, and have been regarded by all civilized nations as worthy of the public expenditure, interest, ana care. Thus may the old century receive fresh homage from the new, and an increase of glory emblazon on our country's flag the inscription woven in upon it at Lake George, of Sei'tember 8th, 1755.t One hundred years— one hundred years— are gone. Rapid is the roll of centuries. Majestic clouds in the firmament of * Note XXVI. t Note XXVII. , ^-c^i^Aw^iilgfri-iiy^^fs^m^^^^^-vVvs^-^iaa'^ .it.''!**.**!**'- jXi^n &imiafn ^' » i»'- re gone. Rapid le firmament of 31 H c stand like m a« warriors ■es, mounding lie furrows of ,n the plough, ids which the japing at the of men ; and, final doom, ye )rtality !* the hills have this day com- our historical rpctuating the and enduring 2 erected at the lich an appro- raved, and on ;l Titcomb and )untry. I also erected to the ftain, near the luments are of to the people; ;ism; they are orials of God's objects of sight regarded by all diture, interest, 3 fresh homage iblazon on our Ett Lake George, time, they fleet away, bearing on their diversified forms the light and shade of human destiny. Everywhere, as here, . seen the vanity of earthly scenes, except as they are connected with the ends of an everlasting kingdom. Results eii' ^ r.^ ' .«.,■'-'>.. '«j«i«|i»)({j^Ka%i«W5««Hi«I»>«MMS» g^^aeaa few it fc "'' ■ i" - iMm. APPENDIX. THE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION. Tub preliminary action of the citizens of Caldwell, the official account of the celebration, aud a notice of the regatta, are appended to the discourse as historical incidents. PRELIMINARY MEASURES TAKEN. At a meeting of the citizens of Caldwell on August 31 st, 1855, a committee was appointed to take measures for the celebration of " the victory at Lake George on the 8th of September, 1755. The committee issued the following announcement, in the form of a hand-bill : — " The Centennial CEiEnnATioN of the Battle of Lake Geokge, 8th of Sept., 1755, will toko place at Caldwell on Saturday, 8th of September. A discourse appropriate to the occasion will lo delivered at 12 m., iu the Court-Houso, by the Rev. Dr. Van Rensselaer. " Caldwell, Sept. lat, 1855. "Tiios. Archibald," " John P. SiiERRiLi, Committee "T. BOWEN, of "W. W. HicRs, Arrangement." > r , ' "S. R. Aucuibald, J CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION AT LAKE GEORGE. This account of the celebration is extracted from the Albany Express of September 12th, 1855, of which Carleton Edwards, Esq., was at that time editor: — We had the pleasure of being one of the large party which, on Saturday last, attended the Centennial Celebration of the Battle of Lake George, at Caldwell. Taking lodgings with "mine host" of the favourite and favoured Lake House, wo found the village alive with the bustle and preparations of the approaching f^te. The ladies of the Lake House had taken the affair under their especial superintendence, had prepared a large number of decorations and flags and emblems, and by their enthusiasm and tact, shown in countless other ways, imparted a prestige to the occasion which secured its complete success. The a '33 immmi ':^m^^m^s^B^mmiimmmms^- imtm -im^ «k^ lil u pAtriolio laillen of the Uke IIouw were nlily iccomled by the Rcntlomcn ^luitnri nn.l \>y the citiionn of Wurrcn comity, undor wIiono Hupcriutoudonco the following progrommo wa« e«tabliiihcd a» the "order" for the day: — Ordtr of Arrangrmenti, SfpUmber %th, 1856. I. A Bun Bt sunrlno. . . ^i it ir. Tlio iirocc^xion will he formed nt 11 o'clock, a.m., and proceed to the courl-houw. Mimit»!-iriiiiH will ho tired nnd the hells rung during the proccMHion. ,.,„., III. KxcrciHcd nt the Court-llouHc: vi«.. 1st. I'riiycr hy llcv. Mr. Goodman; i!d. Martial mnsio; ltd, Addri'K.'< t)y Hcv. C. Van Uen.isclucr; -Ith, Munio. IV. Niitioiiiil Mftluto at noon. , , .1 V. llt'giittft in llio utternoon on the lake, with music, flags, and appropriate docoratloni. VI. Niitioniil Mivluto at Hunset. ; VII. Display of tireworks in the evening at the firing of the signal cannon. The programme was followed out to the letter, and with a uplrit and enthusiasm which we seldom see oven in our largest cities. At sunrise a heavy gun broke the solemn stiil- ness of the lake, and awoke those grand old echoes which a century ogo answered the fatal guns of the American camp. At 11 a.m. the procession left the Lake House to the music of "Hail Columbia" and "God Save the Queen," the Revolutionary Bol(lier.s of Warren county and the ladies, preceded by their committee, being ossigned the places of honour. The court-house was very appropriately dressed with American, French, and English flags. Of the address of the Rev. Dr. Van Rensselaer our readers must judge for theniHelves ; for, despairing of doing it justice by any report of our own, we have concluded, ot the request of tlie citiicns of Caldwell, to publish it in full. In addition to its graceful and scholarly tone, and the eloquence of many passages, which rise to the dignity of true poetry, it is a complete and careful accopjt of a famous passage in American history ; and, considering the perishable nature of the traditions and records of colonial times, should be preserved in some more enduring form than the columns of a newspaper. The people of Caldwell intend so to preserve it. In the afternoon there was a beautiful regatta on the lake, under the command of Richard Davids, Esq., of Philadelphia, installed admiral for the occasion, and whose beau- tiful "Prairie-Bird," dressed with the American flag and variegated streamers, excited universal admiration. Altogether there were about twenty-flve boats in the fleet, deco- rated with Scotch, Irish, English, French, and American flags; and the orderly and Benman-liko manner in which the nquatio procession was manoeuvred reflected great credit on the admiral 01 the day. At sunset there was a national salute ; and, as darkness gathered over the mountains, the rockets were sot forth— fiery heralds and forerunners of the beautiful pyrotechnic dis- play which soon illuminated the loke. And so— brilliantly illuminated to the last— ended a day which nature had favoured throughout with a cloudless sky and a pure and bracing atmosphere,— a day to be marked with white in the American calendar, and which was most nobly and appropriately celebrated on the classic ground of the Old French War. To the writer of this hastily-prepared and altogether inadequate report, himself a lineal descendant of one of the American riflemen who fought on that day, it was an occasion of CKpecial pleasure and pride. One by one the gallant men who took part in those stirring scenes have passed away ; the traditions are already becoming obscure and the records scanty, and it becomes us of this generation to gather them together and preserve them while we may. It will be seen, by a report elsewhere published, that the citizens of Cald- well do not rest content with the centennial pageant, but have taken measures for the erec- tion of two monuments on the battle-ground— one to commemorate the battle of Lake George and tributary to the memory of those who fell in it, nnd another in honour of Hen- drick, the gallant sachem of the Mohawks, who also fell on that memorable day. '-'teaiBSsa^'SaaiKrC'ViiWMiaca^fagwasiaiE^^ . r"ifiiki!"it> "m \ men vlnitnri nml \>y ing prDgi'ummo wn* 1 to the eourt-houif . lodman ; 2J, Martial oprlato docoratloM. cannon. id onthuiimflm which oko tho Hulomu utill- ry ago anHWcrcJ tho Lake IIouso to the lutioniiry Buliliers of ssigneil tho pliiccH of loricun, French, and adors must judge for 1, we have concluded, Idition to its graceful to tho dignity of true nerican history; and, )nial times, should be ipor. Tho people of (ler tho command of ion, and whoso boau- id struamcra, excited its in the fleet, deco- and the orderly ond reflected great credit d over the mountains, itiful pyroteclinic dia- led to the last — ended id a pure and bracing endar, and which was Old French War. To port, himself a lineal it was an occasion of : part in those stiiTing isuuro and tho records lier and preserve them it the citizens of Cald- measures for the erec- ite the battle of Lake ,her in honour of Ileu- imorablo day. S5 THE REGATTA ON THE LAKE. Wrillen by .u. the boats wuru anchored out on the liike, a short ilistanoo from tho shore. The rognlta was under the supcrintcnilence of Coninio• front of tho " Luke House," started in single fllo, the band taking tho lead in tho " Uaiiger of tho Lake." They moved slowly on, in beautiful order, in the direction of Fort William Henry, th eprocession ex- tomling almost tho entire distance. When not far from tho southern shore, the bouts made a beautiful curve, following in tho wake of tho corimiodore. Then, proceeding a short distance, they turned again to the left iind fornieil in a straight lino in front of tho " Lake House," each boat coming into rank twenty or thirty feet beyond its neighbour, nn:, NOTE I.— Pago 6. TUB IROQUOIS. The Iboquois, or Five Nations, were the most celebrated tribes of Indians in Nprth America. Tlic traditions in respect to their early history are vague and unsatisfactory. The date of their Alliance was probably about the middle of the sixteenth century, or 1550. A Dutch missionary at Diondcrog'a, [Fort Hunter,] writing in 1746, states that, according to the best information he could obtain from the Mohawks, the alliance took place "one tvgc, or the length of a man's life, before the white people came into the country," — which latter event was in 1C09. The names of the confederated tribes were the Mohawks, the Oneidas, tho Onondagas, the Cayugas, and the Senecas. The name of the confederation was Kono- ihioni, meaning People of the Long House, or a United People. This Long House extended from the Hudson to Lake Eric, and on the north to the St. Lawrence. According to Mr. Bancroft, " Tho immediate dominion of the Iroquois stretched from the borders of Vermont to Western New York, and from the Lakes to tho head-waters of the Ohio, the Susque- hanna, and tho Delaware." " The peninsula of Upper Canada was their hunting-fiald by right of war."* The Tuscaroras, who were a branch of tho parent stock, but who had settled in IJorth Carolina, reunited with the Iroquois in 1713, and thenceforth formed part of the confederacy. Tho appellation of "Six Nations" is derived from this accession of tho Tuscaroras. The Iroquois were a brave, warlike people, and carried their conquests far and wide. In tho language of Mr. Schoolcraft, " History, guiding the pen of tho French Jesuit, describes them as pouring in their canoes through the myriad streams that interlace in Western New York, and debouching, now on the Gulf of St. Lawrence, now on the Chesapeake— glancing again over the waves of the Michigan, and now again plying their paddles in tho waves of the turbid Mississippi. Wherever they went, they carried proofs of their energy, courage, and enterprise. "At one period, we hear the sound of their war-cry along tho straits of the St. Mary's, : ' d at tho foot of Lake Superior ; at another, under tho walla of Quebec, where they 80 * Ilist. of U. S., iU. 214, 245. "~;*3 ft ii » ^ B n K »iwaBassi-a«iH8iBi8 ^^WK^«*^^iii^i^i'^msmsmitxs»0x>SiiWiii»iisiii 37 terest in the author's lich could nut bo well iblic in the hope that istory of the locality the minds of yisitors of Indians in Uprth 10 and unsatisfactory, inth century, or 1550. states that, according nee took place "one untry," — which latter [ohawks, the Oneidas, ifedcration was Kono- Long House extended le. According to Mr. le borders of Vermont he Ohio, the Susque- their hunting-fisld by t stock, but who had jnceforth formed part rom this accession of ests far and wide. In ench Jesuit, describes jrlace in Western New Chesapeake — glancing iddles in the waves of their energy, courage, lits of the St. Mary's, f Quebec, where they finally defeated the Huron*, under the eyes of the French. They put out the fires of tho Gahkwns and Erics. They eradicated tho Susquchnnims. They placed the Lenapcs, tho Nanticokes, and tiic Munsecs, under the yoke of subjection. They put tlie Mctoacks and tho Manhattans under tribute. They spread the terror of their arms over all New England. They traversed the whole length of the Appalachian cliain, and descended, like the enraged Yagisho and Megalonyx, on tiie Chcrokecs and the Catawbas. Smitli encountered their warriors in the settlement of Virginia, and La Salle on the discovery of the Illinois. Na- tions trembled when they heard the name of Konoihioni."* Tho Uev. Charles Inglis, minister of Trinity Church, New York, says, in his " Memorial concerning the Iroquois :" — «' The spirit of conquest carried them far beyond the limits of their own native districts. They have extended their empire over a country 1200 miles in length from north to south, and COO in breadth from east to west."! The head-quarters or seat of the Iroquois council-fires was on tho banks of the Onon- daga Lake, among tho Onondagas, who were the most central tribe. Various ancient tumuli, fortifications, intrenchments, and other works, in Western New York, are objects of great interest to antiquarians. In their best days, the Iroquois could bring several thousand warriors into tho field. The number of fighting men, at the time of the Old French AVar, according to Sir AVm. Johnson, J was about two thousand. Owing in a great measure to the influence of Sir Wm. Johnson, who resided among them, the Iroquois re- mained firm to the English and American cause throughout that war, notwithstanding all the artful cflforts of the French. In the war of the Revolution, the Iroquois took sides with tho British against the Americans. The influence of the Johnson family contributed to secure this result. Brant was their most famous chieftain in the war of the Revolution. After tho war, most of the Mohawks and many of tho Onondagas and Cayugas retired into Canada, whilst tho Oneidas and parts of tho other Western tribes remained. In 1784, at the treaty of Fort Stanwix, and at subsequent treaties, they ceded away most of their ancient domain. Tho number of Iroquois now residing in the State of New York on tho Reservations is quite small. The remnants of some of the tribes are to be found in Wis- consin and the Far West. A century has made a great difi'erence in the power atid posses- sions of the once famous Konoshioni, and, like the French, who were their inveterate enemies, they have disappeared from the high places of their former glory. NOTE IL— Page 6. 8AMVEL DB OnAMFLAIN. < > . ' A remarkable example of historical coincidence is exhibited in the discoveries by Cham- plain in Northern New York, almost at the very time that Hudson, from the south, was ascending the river that now bears his name. Champlain was on tho Upper St. Lawrence and Lake Champlain in June, July, and August, of 1C09 ; whilst Ilendrick Hudson sailed past Manhattan and up the magnificent Hudson as far as the neighbourhood of Albany, in September of the same year. They left memorials of their discoveries in the names which geography has made immortal. Some account of Champlain may be interesting, especially to travellers on tho northern lakes. Samuel de Champlain, of Saint Onge, was a captain in the French navy, and a military officer of scientific and liteiary attainments. He was a man of enterprise, of a bold, active spirit, persevering in tho pursuit of his schemes, and well trained to I; * Notes of Iroquois, p. 62 t Doc. Illst. of N. Y., It. 1091. X Doc. Uist., i. 20. mm ^mt i k igsiBi ^ i amm m m tt-i ;^£S^i^i^msm^m^ii^^s^s^^^ismssmm" y m 38 • carry them into execution. By command of the king, Champlain, who had just returned from a voyage to the West Indies, was ordered, in 1602, to accompany the Sieur du Pont Gravd, a wealthy merchant of St. Malo, into Canada. Setting sail near the close of 1002, Champlain reached Canada early in 1608, and sailed up the St. Lawrence as far as Mon- treal. His second voyage was in 1604, when he was absent four years, spending a large part of his time in exploring Acadia and its vicinity. He sailed the third time from France in 1608, and selected Quebec as the future capital of New France. Ho and his companions epent the winter in a few rude huts, which were the first European tenements erected on the banks of the St. Lawrence. In the following year, 1609, Champlain headed an expedition of Hurons and Algonquins against the Iroquois ; and it is in the narrative of this expedition that he makes an allusion to Lake George. The battle fought with the Iroquois was on a promontory, marked on Champlain's map as being in the neighbourhood of Fort Ticonderoga, and its scene was quite probably on that very spot. This location corresponds with the description of the locality : — " at the point of a Cape which juts into the lake on the west side."* It was " in forty-three degrees and some minutes latitude." Perhaps it was Crown Point. Some writers have maintained that the place where this battle was fought was in Lake George, and that it was to the smaller lake, and not to the larger, that Champlain originally gave his name. But this idea is not only contradicted by the general narrative of Cham- plain, in which he gives no account of transporting his canoes to another lake and back again, but it is refuted by Champlain's map, in which the two lakes are put down, with his own name to the larger one, and with the locality of the bAttle on the shore of the same lake. Moreover, the reference in Champlain's narrative to Lake George does not authorize the conclusion that the battle was on this latter lake. Champlain saw Lake George "after- wards," but not on the occasion of his first expedition. His language is as follows, which wo quot« on account of its historical interest, this being the first description ever given of Lake George and its vicinity : — " I saw other mountains to the south, not less high than the former ; only that they were without snow. The Indians told me that there we were to go to meet their enemies, and that they were thickly inhabited, and that we must pass by a waterfall,! which I afterwards saw, and thence into another lake, J three or four leagues long, and, having arrived at its head, there were four leagues overland to be travelled to pass to a river, J which flows towards the coa? t of the Almouchiquois,|| tending towards that of the Almouchiquois, and that they were o ily two days going there in their canoes, as I understood smce from prisoners of war that we took, who, by means of some Algonquin interpreters who were acquainted with the Iro luois language, conversed freely with me about all they had noticed."^ It was doubtless the intention of Champlidn and his Indians to pass through Lake George into the Iroquois country ; but the Iroquois warriors, who had received intelligence of the expedition by their scouts, went forth to meet their enemies and intercept them before they came to the Mohawk settlements. Champlain left Montreal in the latter part of April, and the battle was not fought until the 29th of July— which gave ample time for the Iroquois to receive intelligence of the movements of their enemies and to advance against them. Champlain " afterward*" saw the waterfall and Lake George. As he spent almost the whole of his subsequent life in Canada, it is not surprising that he should take a future opportunity to visit " the waterfall" and the " smaller lake ;" but as such excur- sion may not have been on public business, or at least was not attended with any results of public importance, no mention is made of it in his public reports or writings. The first use of fire-arms in the State of New York was in this battle between the French Indians and the Iroquois; and Champlain himself fired the first gun which echoed among • Voyaftes do Champlain, 1. 198. t The Iliulson, f Between the two lakes. \ Indians in New England. % Lake Of>orge. If Voyngcs, :.. 196. i^m&is^iif^f^gmmmst m ms i iimmmmmiei iki^ ^ ^ ^ 39 5 had just returned y the Sieur du Pont r the close of 1G02, ince as far as Mon- rs, spending a large rd time from France and his companions onemcnts erected on 'ons and Algonquins >e makes an allusion lontory, marked on I, and its scene was le description of the side."* It was "in 'n Point. fought was in Loke ]hamplain originally narrative of Chom- other lake and back are put down, with he Bhorc of the same ;e does not authorize Lake George "after- t is as follows, which ription ever given of I, not less high than I that there we were i that wo must pass lake, J three or four gues overland to be iouchiquois,|| tending ) going there in their 0, by means of some ige, conversed freely through Lake George jd intelligence of the jtercept them before a the latter part of gave ample time for nies and to advance Jeorge. As he spent g that he should take " but as such ezcur- ided with any results )r writings, e between the French which echoed among ke George, jynges, :.. 19fi. I I s I the mountains of the lakes. He says, " When I saw them preparing to shoot at ns, 1 raised my arquebus, and, aiming directly at one of the three chiefs, two of them fell to tho ground by this shot, and one of their companions received a wound of whicli he died afterwards." The Iroquois soon fled from tho field, astonished ^t weapons which made so loud a noise and produced eflfects so fatal.* ^ One of the consequences of Ciiamplain's expedition against tho Iroquois was to make them, forever after, the violent enemies of the French. This was especially true of the Mohawks and Oneidas, whoso warriors bore the brunt of the battle on the lake. The Iroquois soon learned tho use of gunpowder and muskets from tho Dutch colonists at Albany, and became expert marksmen. It is possible that a conciliatory policy on tho part of Cliamplain, such as was attempted by hio successors, might have won over the Iroquois to the French interests. The name of Ciiahplain is inseparably connected with the early discoveries and coloniza- tion of Canada. As the founder of Quebec,-)- and the leading spirit of the country for a quarter of a century, he deserves a grateful remembrance. lie died on Christmu:! day, 1085, and his body was buried at Quebec, in the humble chapel of the Recollets, which has since been succeeded by the cathedral. He was a zealous Roman Catholic, and a great patron of the Jesuit missionaries. He often said that " the salvation of one soul was of more value than the conquest of an empire." , , ^ NOTE III.— Page 7. ISAAC JOOUES. Isaac Jogues was the first Jesuit missionary among the Iroquois. He was born in 1C07, ordained priest in 1636, and arrived at Quebec on July 2d of tho same year, 1636. Ho immediately proceeded to the country of the Hurons, among whom he laboured near Green Bay for five years. In 1641, Charles Raymbault and Isaac Jogues were detached to establish a mission among the Chippewas at the Falls of St. Mary, which was the first mis- sion on the western soil of the present United States. J The missionaries found there an assemblage of two thousand persons who had never seen a European or heard a word of the true God. Father Jogues, on his return to the Hurons, was summoned to Quebec, where he remained a few weeks, and then set out again for the Hurons. His party, when about fifty miles from Quebec, were taken prisoners by the Iroquois, who were laying in wait for them, and they were carried to tho Mohawk settlements. Three of the Hurons were burned to death ; the life of Father Jogues was spared, but he remained prisoner for a year, and his hands were mutilated by the devices of Indian torture. In 1613 ho embarked for Europe, ond soon returned to Canada, having obtained from the pope permission to celebrate the mass with his mutilated hands, in consideration of the martyrdom ho had well nigh suffered. In 1645 a treaty of peace was made at Three Rivers between the Iroquois and Hurons. During the succeeding winter the French witnessed these tribes mingling together in the chase — what had not been witnessed before since the colonization of Canada. Father Jogues was commissioned, in the following spring, to visit the Mohawk country, with pre- ♦ A translation of ChampIaln'R first expedition against the Iroquois iu 1609, and of a subsequent expedition aftalnst tho OnondaKHS and Seneeas In 1615 by the way of Uke Ontario, is found In Doc. Hist, of N. Y., 111. 3-24, with Champlaln's map and references. On the map h a locality, near Lake George, which he names Saint Ongo. t So named after one of the ancient selgneurles of Normandy, from which part of France, and from Brittany, most of the parlv settlers and leading men came.— //«ioA.i-»ij' Picturr. nf QuelfC. X Ilistoire de Canada, de son £glise, et de ses Missions. Par M. L'Abbi Brasseur de Bourbuurg, 1. 54. ■i mi»'" .;jimsismm'&^^'^ 1 i 40 Bcnts in token of tlio ratification of the treaty. It was while on this journey tliat he rcnchotl Lnlio Andialarocle or. tlio eve of tlio Holy Sncraracnt or Corpus Christi, imd hence gave it the name of ''St. Sucremcnt," which it retuincd for more than a century. Father Jogues reached Fort Orange on Juno 4th, and passed on to the Jlohawks, where he was hospitably recoivcd. He remained among the Iroquois about a fortnight, and reached Quebec on the 20tli of June. The report ho made to his superiors induced them to select him to establish a mission among the Iroquois, he alone understanding their dialect. "Ibo et non redibo" were his prophetic words ; " 1 shall go and shall not return." Setting out from Quebec on the 27th of September, he again passed through the lakes, and reached tlie Mohawk village, supposed to be Caughnawagn, on the 17th of October. On the following evening, as he was entering p, cubin, where he had been invited to sup, on Iroquois struck him a heavy blow on the head with a hatchet, which instantly killed him. His companion suffered the same fate. Their heads were cut off and exposed on the palisades of the village, and their bodies were thrown into the Mohawk. After tlie lapse of a few years the Iroquois themselves admired and venerated the murdered missionai-y for his virtues and fortitude.* As before remarked, Champlain, and not Father Jogues, was the first European that saw Lake George. It is not certain, however, that Champlain over traversed it. Fatlier Jogues may have passed over the lake the first Ume in 1C42, when he was carried captive by the Iroquois into the Mohawk country, ^r , NOTE IV.— Page 7. nOCTES BETWEEN THE mOQUOIS COUNTEY AND CANADA. The French expeditions from Canada into the country of the Iroquois generally passed through Lake Ontario ; but in attacking the Mohawks, or easterly tribe. Lake Champlain was used. The route from Fort Orange to Canada was to the "carrying-place" [Fort Edward] on the Hudson, and thence by Wood Creek, or by Lake George, into Lake Cham- plain. The most common route from the Mohawk country was probably through Lake ocorge. Champlain, indeed, expressly states :— " The Indians told me it was there [to the south] that we were to go to meet their enemies, * * * and that we must pass by a waterfall, * * * and thence enter another Imk'e three or four leagues long." Champlain, on his map published in 1632, marks Lake George 06, with this reference :— " Little lake by whicl- we go to Iroquois after passing that of Champlain." The Iroquois probably took the route through Lake George as being the nearest and most convenient, and for military purposes the most obscure. In the treaty between the Iroquois and the French, made at Quebec in 1600, it is stipulated :—" Also that trade and commerce be open to them [the Iroquois] with New France., by the Lake dn Saint Sacrement, with the assurance on their part that they will provide in their country a sure retreat to the trading merchants, not only by preparing dvbins to lodge them in, but also by assisting to erect forts to shelter them from their common enemies."! Lt.-Govcrnor Colden, in his Observations, &c. on the Province of New York, printed in 1738, speaking of the routes between Canada and the Hudson, snys, "From the eastern branch there is only land-carriage of sixteen miles to the Wood Creek, or to the Lake St. Sacrament."^ So that even from Fort Orange the route by Lake George was sometimes taken. • IIlBtoIro de Canada, 1. 50. •' U premier p»rml les Jfisultes de Canada, U avail donn* son sang pour la cans* delarfllglon." Ibid.flO. *tkm., i-l .,»^*==5StJ«««»S^^ n ' .^j.:l^iL.^^^^-'-^i:y^j. .. ."- ourney that he iristi, mid henco iiitury. Father s, where he was ht, and reached ablish a mission redibo" were his ebec on tlio 27tli tillage, supposed he vas entering javy blow on the 1 the same fate, heir bodies were imselves admired iropean that saw Fatlier Jogucs 3d captive by the generally passed , Lake Champlain fing-place" [Fort into Lake Cham- bly through Lake was there [to the e must pass by a ng." Chaniplain, cc : — " Little lake iiois probably took t, and for military e French, made at open to them [the issurance on their ng merchants, not ect forts to shelter jservations, &c. on twecn Canada and of sixteen miles to 1 Fort Orange the son sang pour la cans* lid. iv. 173. f^^^ifgigjj^^ei^ifjjiSSIfmkil>Kff '' 41 NOTE v.— Pago 8. ON THE nlVAL CLAIMS OP GREAT DBITAIX AND FRANCE TO TIFEIR POSSESSIONS IH AMERICA — ORIGIN OF TUB OLD FBENCII WAR. The subject of this note might easily be expanded into a long discourse. A few hints, however, are all that can bo attempted in illustration of the origin of the old French war. Wo must go back to " the beginning." The Englisli claim was founded upon the voyages of the Cabot.s, wiio first discovered the continent in 14'J7, and in that and the following year explored its coast from Labrador to Albemarle Sound. The patent of Sir Walter Ualeigh, giving jurisdiction over extensive regions in Virginia and Carolina, dates from 1584 ; and the first colonial charter, dated in IGOO, grants to certain parties the soil from Capo Fear on the south to Halifax on the north, or from the thirty-fourth to the forty-fifth degree of latitude. Charters were subse- quently granted in New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland, &c. These charters generally gave jurisdiction indefinitely to the West, even to the "South Sea." The French claim was founded upon the voyages of Verazzani, Cartier, Champlain, &c. ; and, as regards the West, France maintained the right of discovery and possession of the Mississippi Valley through her traders and military expeditions, the great La Salle having passed down, in 1682, to the outlet of the "Father of Waters." Thus situated as to original jurisdiction, neither party acknowledged the claims of the other, and the questions of boundary remained unsettled until the end of the Old French War. The sword of victory then cut the knot. The French, in support of their claim, pointed to an article in the treaty of Ryswick, in 1097, between England and France. By that treaty all lands on any rivers in America, tlie mouths or outlets wliercof were in pos- session of either nation, were conceded to that nation as high as the first sources of those rivers. The French maintained that thix article gave them a riglit to the lands north and west of the British colonies, from Canada along the lakes to the mouth of the Mississippi ; but a concession so extensive was never intended. Sir Wm. Keith, Governor of Pennsyl- vania, observed, in his report made in 1718 to the Commissioners of Trade and Plantations, that such an interpretation was inconsistent with the ancient grants from the crown and with the very existence of the colonies. France, however, persevered in establishing a line of forts from Montreal through the Mississippi Valley to Canada. She had forts • at Frontenac, Niagara, Eric, Venango, at the junction of Monongahela and Alleghany, Detroit, Kaskaskia, mouth of AVabash, Black Islands on the Ohio, and four between these islands and New Orleans, besides Fort Presentation on the St. Lawrence, Fort St. Frederick at Crown Point, and forts at other points in the Northwest and on tlie northern borders of New England and of Nova Scotia, or Acadia. Several of these forts were built in express violation of the h-eaty of Utrecht, in 1713. The 15th article of that treaty declared that "the subjects of Franco, inhabitants of Canada and elsev.'here, shall not disturb or molest, in any manner whatever, the Five Indian Nations which are subject to Great Britain, nor its other American allies."* This article acknow- ledges the protectorate of Great Britain over the Iroquois ; and the latter had, indeed, by solemn treaties, in 108.1, and again at Albany in 1701, and subsequently in 1720, declared their dependence upon Great Britain, and the latter agreed to protect tlio Iroquois in all* their rights to the soil. Notwithstanding this article of the treaty, Franco seized upon Niagara and established a fort there in 1720, and erected another at Crown Point in 1731, and another, called Fort Presentation, on the St. Lawrence in 1740. • The words of the tro.ity are explicit ;— " Quiivim Xationu siw Cantonea Indorum Magnm nrHtannia Impend- Sul^Ktas."—Art. jrr. Treat!, ./ Ulreclil. r : I i JiJrMtl ;3ii,1T»''"S«e"*fc f 42 The treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle was framed in 17-18. Tlie most renowned diplomatists of Europe engaged iu it, but settled nothing. England, having been worsted in several cam- paigns, was ansious to obtain peace. The public sentiment of tlio nation, however, was opposed to the indefinite and humiliating treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle. The boundaries were all loft undetermined, and the causes of contention between the two nations continued, so that war was again declared in 1750. In the mean time, however, aggressive measures were planned and executed by both nations, and the several campaigns of 1765 took place during a state of nominal peace. NOTE VI.— Page 9. -S- i'Si THE ALBANY CONVENTION — CONFERENCES WITH TUB INDIANS — THE PLAN OP UNION — REPRESENTATION OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS. A convention of delegates from the colonies, summoned by the Lords Commissioners for Trade and the Plantations, met at Albany, N. Y., on June 24th, 1754. I. Conferences with the Indians. — The chief object of the convention was to confer with the Iroquois Indians, and to conciliate their friendship and co-operation. In the approaching crisis, the colonies had need of their ancient allies. The French, with their accustomed address and perseverance, had caused several of the tribes to falter in their loyalty to the provincial cause, and a lukewarmness existed among the Indians in general, which threatened serious results. The principal ground of discontent was the indifference of the English to Indian interests. In proof of the general apathy of the Indians, a comparatively small number of the sachems attended the conference. All the tribes of the confederacy, however, were represented, and among the Mohawk sachems was Hen- DRICK, himself a host. The speeches on the part of the Indians, especially those made by Hendrick, were fear- less and eloquent. After several days' conferences, the Indians went home, apparently in good spirits and with revived friendship. The covenant-chain was renewed, and the Iro- quois were conciliated as allies to the colonies in the approaching contest. Hendrick took leave of the commissioners, saying, " We beg we may all take care of the tree of friendship, and preserve it, by our mutual ottention, from any injuries : we will take care of it on our Bide, and we hope our brethren will do so on theirs. We wish this tree of friendship may grow up to great height." II. The Plan of Union. — Another important object of the Albany convention was to concert measures for the public welfare. The most remarkable of these measures was the Plan op Union, proposed to the colonies for their adoption. Franklin was the prime mover of the scheme. He was on the committee appointed to digest it, and made the final draught submitted to the colonies. There was no difference of opinion in the convention on the importance and necessity of a union of the colonies in the existing emergency. Various debates, however, occurred on the specific plans to form the basis of a union. The subject was before the convention at twelve different settions, and received long and animated discussions. The general outlines of the Plan of Union, as finally adopted, were, — 1. A Prcsident- Genernl, to be appointed and supported by the Crown. 2. A Grand Council, or Congress, to be elected every three years by the Provincial Assemblies, of which no Colony should have more than seven or less than two ; the Grand Council to meet once every year, or oftener. 3. The assent of the. President-General to be necessary to all Acts of the Grand Council, and it is his duty to execute the laws. 4. The Grand Council to have power to make treaties with the Indians, to purchase lands from them that are not within the I Ii.Vi^-■Sl*■i^SW^«i*;^ : ,:i*„5:'3Jl*iiS^SgK*'«*lB.' diplomatists of in several cara- II, however, was boundaries were ns continued, so essive measures 1755 took place N OP UNIOJI — >mniis8ioncrs for on was to confer eration. In the •ench, with their to falter in their diaus in general, I the indifference r the Indians, a All the tribes of .chcroa was Hen- drick, wore fear- no, apparently in »ed, and the Iro- Hcndrick took ree of friendship, I care of it on our if friendship may jonvention was to measures was the n was the prime nd made the final in the convention sting emergency, basis of a union, received long and — 1. A Prcsident- ncil, or Congress, no Colony should ice every year, or Vets of the Grand to have power to 'e not within the 43 bounds of particular Colonics, to raise and pay soldiers, build forts for the defence of any of the Colonics, and equip vessels to guard tlio coast and protect the trade on the ocean ; and fur tiuso purposes shall have power to lay and levy general duties, imposts, or taxes, as sliall appear most c(iual and just. 5. Military officers to bo nomiiinfcd by President- General and approved by Grand Council, and eiDtl officers to bo nominated by Grand Council and approved by Presi..~«^:v;i^3.e««'. "■'='*«SL<«5irtteikiS(SU)C.feW> : -»t=«.-^!>i;,(*Wi*jifei»S,'rv«:*H!vsh6ia^i'f.*K-;;.'-^^ S i\ 44 in thcso roprcscntntions. cannot now be ascertained. Nor is U necessary io i«»P«'«'; »" orr r by LLg a crime to the indictment. Mistakes frequently occur m war, as m cml IL It was quite natural for the authorities in Great Britain, who 1-e<=ted the am- Sn to suppose that the .oute taken by Washington in 1753 was a good one. Mor - r t was thought that a southern route would enable the expedit.on to «tart e 'er. I mu, bo confessed, however, that Draddock's expedition was badly managed in its detai.8 "lb gnn g tend; but for these details the council assembled at Alexandna was not rein ' le. The pla^ of operations adopted by that council was as well arranged and ^X:Lo as could be expected, although the execution came so far short of the '■i;:\:.:roTc":quering Canada was not as yet developed. The campaign of 1755 was a loLiyo one. ll object was simply to repel the encroachments of the French. NOTE VIII.— Page 12. THE NAMB OF LAKE OEOEOB. This beautiful Sheet of water has had several names; and a proposal has been lately made to adopt still another one. , , 1 The old Iroguois name is said by some to be Andtataboctb, or ' there the lake sm s iJc f * This name may. perhaps, refer to the «.rf of the lake rather than to ho whole lak The French may b'ea; this interpretation, and the translation of the l"'!- -m eems to require it. Others affirm that the proper Indian name is C^NA.nKUi-oiT, or <• th X f the Ike," the smaller lake being a sort of appendage to the larger. Nether of these names gained much currency among the English, Dutch, or French. TZFrLk name of the lake was Saint Sacu.mknt. given by ^^tber Jogues in com- memoration of the day on which ho arrived at its northern extremity, which was on the 7ZtllLx of the Holy Sacrament, or Body of Christf Mr. Cooper, in his famou novel 'The Last of the Mohicans." states that the name St. Sacrament was given to the Uke on account of the purity of its waters. His language is:-."It« waters were so Umpid as to have boon JxcluJively selected by the Jesuit missionaries to perform typica purification of baptism, and to obtain for it the title of lake "duSa^nt Sac-.cnL No wonder that, with this artificial and complicated derivation, the novehst, in h s piflce thinks the French name "too complicated." Its origin, howover, was m s- c nle ;d^^ The Roman Catholics frequently connect the discovery of V^<^oes .r^^ i^. fest ^names on the calendar. Thus, the Gulf of St. Lawrence was so c-vHed by Car- tie wbo discovered it on St. Lawrence's day, the 10th of August, 1535; Lake St. Cla^ was named by La Salle, who discovered it on St. Clair's day, the 12tb of August, 16 9^ Sus are, one of the old French fort., erected on the river Richelieu in 16 4, was called fit Loui« because it was commenced the week of the celebration of the festival of St. Lol and Fo^^^^^^^^ Frederick, erected at Crown Point in 1731, has an historicnl connection t rthat fest val U on the calendar. The far-fetched conjecture of Mr. Cooper has been Too trustfuUy Mowed by other writers. The name of the lake has no typical reference . ..lU «rriv.™nt. la veiUe du S. Sacren.eBt, «„ VK,„t d„ Uc ,ul c,t joint au g..nd ^^ ^l^^^^'^^; ^^ IroquolB le nomment Andlatarocte, conune qui disolt Id ou k lac ie fcnne. Le P4re Bacremert."— iJeWtoriK, 1645-40. /n.„„i. of nnmn and occuifl on the Thursday atter tte iCIuch name is not accu^te. It ought to be " the Lake of tte Holy Sacra.,cnt." -:.iafe&Jiasfe'«»ifBS-* !iW>g^'i^**l*ffia>.-?'^^^*MSaifta^ L io impeach on Tar, as in civil Bctcd the cam- (1 one. Moro- ;art earlier. It d in its details andria was not . arranged and ir sUort of the gn of 1766 was French. has been lately •e the lake shuts lan to the whole he Indian name Eui-oiT, or "the ger. Neither of r Jogues in com- hich was on the cr, in his famous was given to the waters were so ) perform typical hint Sacrement." novelist, in his wever, was mis- places with the !0 called by Car- ) ; Lake St. Clair of August, 1679. 1CG4, was called he festival of St. toricnl connection . Cooper has been typical reference ic de ChamplaiD. Leu ) nomma le Lac du S. m the Thursday after lacrament of the Holy SngUsh translation of ust*' 45 wliatover to baptism, but an historical one to the "Blessed Sacrament of the Body of Christ." 3. The Englinh name is Lake Oeokoe, given by General Johnson on his arrival, with the American force.s, at its southern extremity. "The French call it Lake St. Sacrament; but I have given it the name of Lake 0( „v," says the old veteran, "not only in honour to his Majesty, but to atcertain his undoubted dominion htre." Before attempting a vindica- tion of this name and the propriety of retaining it, let us notice the new appellation that has been proposed. 4. The name of " IIorican" has been proposed by Mr. Cooper, the distinguished novelist, from a tribe of Indians who formerly lived somewhere in the neiglibourhood. The follow- ing is Cooper's account, in his Preface of 1851 to the Mohicans : — "While writing this book, fully a quarter of a century since, it occurred to us that the French name of tliis lake was too complicated, the American too commonplace, and the Indian too unpronounceable, for cither to be used familiarlij in a work of fiction. Looking over an ancient mop, it was ascer- toined that a tribe of Indians, called ' Lcs Horicans' by the Frcncli, existed in the neigh- bourhood of this beautiful sheet of water. As every word uttered by Natty Bumppo was not to be received as rigid truth, we took the liberty of putting the ' Horican' into his mouth as the substitute for ' Lake George.' The name has appeared to find favour, and, all things considered, it may possibly be quite as well to let it stand, instead of going back to the ' House of Hanover' for the appellation of our finest sheet of water." I venture to make a few remarks in opposition to this suggestion. Let it be noted, in the first place, that the name " Horican," as applied to the lake, is fanciful, and not his- torical. Mr. Cooper, wishing to get some Indian name for his novel, hit upon that of a tribe who used to live somewhere to the east, on the head-waters of the Connecticut River. The proneness of fiction to sustain fiction is seen in the fact that some writers already interpret " Horican" as meaning "pure waters." Mr. Cooper does not attempt to sustain his fanciful nomenclature by such an argument, but openly acknowledges that ho borrowed it from a tribe of Indians of that name. Much less is there any evidence that the Indiana ever called the lake by the name of Horican. Mr. Cooper did not so understand it. And yet it is getting to bo a common saying that " the old Indian name of the lake was Horican, and it was so called on account of the pureneis of its waters !" Mr. Cooper, the original author of the proposed change, confesses the nan^e to be a fiction of his own, introduced to serve the purposes of his novel. The old name of " Lake George" has now become a very proper one, on account of its historical associations. It was not given simply in honour of his Majesty, but " to ascer- tain his undoubted dominion here." The French had claimed the right to the lake, ond were already erecting a fortification at its other extremity. General Johnson, in defiance of this claim, gave to the lake the title of the king, whom the colonies then owned as their lawful sovereign, and in whose name they had sent a military expedition to resist the French. It was a loyal and a spirited act on the part of the American commander thus to associate King George's name with the lake. And it is due to the victory achieved in 1755 to retain the royal name. For more than half a century, Lake George was known only through this celebrated victory ; and the fame of the lake will ever be associated with the memorable action on its shores. That battle will always be known as " the battle of Lake George;" and a novelist might almost as well attempt to Indianize Bunker's Hill as change the old name of the lake, immortalized on the pages of history. The idea that, as we have renounced subjection to kings, the names belonging to the House of Hanover are inappropriate, is absurd. Shall we change the names of Albany and New York, because they remind us of princes of the royal blood? Such names, in- stead of being a dishonour, may serve to remind us of the success of our struggle for independence. They are, at least, honest and truthful memorials of the olden time. There may indeed bs cases whose peculiar circumstances would justify a new noitenclature; P 'igwsM«^BfeiaW^'«iwa ^is«M 46 bat the prMcnt case is not one of these. Politioklly, the colonies prospered under George II., especially during the administration of William Pitt ; under which this lake waH (lie Boene of memorable erents, resulting Anally in the conquest of Canada. Thoro is, there- fore, a peculiar historical fitness in retairing the old name. Besides these reasons, changes of this nature introduce confusion into popular phraseo- logy, and their general adoption is very doubtful, especially when historical axsociations and the common sentiment of the masses are against them. Even if some well-sounding Indiftti name, descriptive of the lake and applied to it by the Indians themselves, could be found, it wnuM scarcely be wise, under present circumstances, to make the innovniion. But to take up with Natty liuroppo's name of "Jlorican," which does not claim to be " rigid truth," but is mere fancy, is asking more than the yeomanry of Warren county vill be likely to grant. Let the good old familiar name of " Lake Qeorge," famous in historical nnnals, be retained. NOTE IX.— Page 18. MILITABT TACTICS OF THB TWO COMMANDliRS. The battle of Lake Qeorge invites some remarks on the military tactics of the two com- manders. The Babon dk Diiskav, bold as a lion, marches into the enemy's country and seeks to terminate the campaign by a series of active aggressions. Two questions arise respecting his tactics ; first, was it wise to advance with so small a detachment into foreign territory, and upon the centre of the operations of a snpeiior force ? and, second, was it wise to direct big march against the main army at the lake rather than against the smaller force at Fort £dward ? The wisdom of entering the enemy's territory, under the circumstances in which Baron Dieskan engaged in the enterprise, is somewhat doubtful. Ho sallied forth in ad- Tance of two commanding positions. Ho held Ticonderoga and Crown Point, tiic latter well fortified, with a considerable body of troops at each place, and from neither of which it is at all likely that Johnson could have dislodged him. If he could have surprised the American army on its march to the lake through the forests, he might have been successful. But Johnson bad reached the lake eleven days before, and had selected a strong position for his camp, which it was natural to suppose would be fortified. On the other hand, Pieskau did not set out from Crown Point until he had received intelligence that the Ame- rican army had encamped on the lake, leaving the "carrying-place" unfortified, with a small number of troops only for its defence. " Boldness wins ;" and why moy not Tort Edward be taken ? Dieskan reaches South Bay without being discovered, hurries on to Fort Edward, and, when within a few miles of it, is constrained to turn aside. The expe- dition ^rovei a failure in the outset. But it embraced other objects, and these were much more difficult to accomplish. Dieskau intended, after taking the fort, to advance upon the oamp, or else to push on to Albany without delay, devastate it, and then cut off Shirley's supplies, or perhaps pursue him up the Mohawk to Oswego, where he had gone on his way to capture Niagara. A wide field of adventure would open before him, presenting various alternatives, the first of which, doubtless, was to attack the Americans at Lake George. Was his little army strong enough for all these risks ? Did not his plans, on the whole, partake of rashness, as well as boldness ? Like Braddock, he was probably ensnared by too great contempt of his enemy. If Dieskau had remained at Crown Point or Ticondcroga, Johnson would, in all probability, have been deterred from advancing, or, if he had advanced, would have been beaten. In that case, all three of the American expeditions of 1755 would have been failures, without the prestige of a single victory. --•i>eMlU3t«e4#4.&r£aHjM>M»-'^ J under George is lake vrnx the rUoro is, thcre- opular phrsneo- sul axBociations wcll-souiuling lomBelves, could the iimovftiion. not claim to be Warren county irge," famous in of the two com- utry and seeks to i arise respecting foreign territory, t8 it ■wise to direct lUer force at Fort nstanoes in which allied forth in ad- Point, tlie latter neither of which ave surprised the e been successful. I a strong position 1 the other hand, nee that the Ame- iinfortified, with a why may not Tort sred, hurries on to aside. The expe- 1 these were much ) advance upon the n cut off Shirley's id gone on his way presenting various a at Lake George, lans, on the whole, )bably ensnared by int or Ticonileroga, if he had advanced, tions of 1756 would llaving resolved to attack the American forces, was it wise in Dicskau to proceed against the camp rather than against the carrying-place ? The actual proceeding was against the camp, altiiough the intention had been in the other direction. Circumstances occurred to require a reconsideration of his plans. The alternative, at last, was to marcli for the camp or to go back to his boats. His troops refused to attack the fort. The Indians were dis- heartened at the idea of encountering artillery. Having unexpectedly hcaril that the big guns wore at the fort, they could not bo induced to proceed against it, but declared their alacrity to surprise the camp, which was reported to be as yet unfortified. SilmiUJ at hi wat, and with the information he poHtised, it will probably be acknowledged that the course Dioskau adopted was the one a military character would be likely to pursue. He marches for the lak«. Ills now plan requires a quick movement and skilful execution. Success beatas upon his banner. He puts to flight the American detachment of the raoniing. From Gage's Hill he catches a view of the camp, and urges on his men to its attack. But he suddenly halts. He is put to the severest test of military genius. Ho is in a dilemma at a crisis. His Indians and Canadians see cannon, and skulk. If they had stood by the regulars an' joined in an immediate assault on the camp, it might have been carried. But the fortunes of war were now against Dieskau. His ignorance of the enemy's equipments and resources is fatal ; and the doy is lost. General Lyman had arrived with the heavy artillery only five days before ; and, as it turned out, the cannon were at the camp and not at the fort. General Johnson, in writing a few days ofter, says, in reference to the refusal of the Indians to attack the carrying-place: — "Very happy for us; for he would have found our troops there separately encamped out of the works, and no cannon there, and his victory would probobly have been a very cheap oi;ie, and made way for another here."* Dieskau accomplished quite as much as a careful calculation of probabilities would have wrought out for an expedition so difficult and dangerous. Having determined upon it, his movements !. the exigencies which compassed him may have been the best within his power. But ..ir better for him and his cause if ho had remained at his own fortified post at Crown Point, or at Ticonderoga, instead of going abroad with so small a number of regular troops in search of adventures of war. If boldness is a virtue, prudence is a grace. Dieskau, in setting out against Fort Edward, ought to have taken with him at least enough regulars to capture the unfinished works there weokly garrisoned, and whether with cannon or without cannon. His plans were better than his means of execution. Losing Eort Edward, he lost all. On the whole, then, Dieskau's expedition, so far as it was un- dertaken against Fort Edward in its unfinished titate and weak garrison, may stand the test of a critical examination ; but, beyond this, the vindication of his expedition has serious diflJcultics, and perhaps the wisest course, and the one which a more cautious general would have adopted, was to strengthen and defend the posts on Lake Champlain. Genf.kal JonxRON, by his own confession, left his rear unprotected. Fort Edward was not only the base of his operations, but was the door of entrance into the province of New York from Canada ; and the capture of that position would both have cut off his own sup- plies and have given the enemy access to all the northern settlements down to Albany. To leave such a position in his rear without cannon, with unfinished intrenchments, with a weak garrison " encamping out of the works," and offering to an active enemy what he himself calls "a cheap victory," and one likely to "make way for another" at the camp, is the commencement, to say the least, of an unpromising campaign. Waiving, however, further criticism on this part of General Johnson's tactics, it is clear that, as a military man, he was more timid and less enterprising than Dieskau. Emergencies did not rouse his nature. Twice informed by scouts — first in the evening and then at midnight — that the enemy were advancing from Lake Champlain, he did not call a council of war until the next • Colonial Documents, t1. 1014 1 I **' '*** ^'*^ 'i «f aJ MS stattowf ffi r w^^ amwawiiwgaai^ia^^ 48 morning. II In first information wax tlmt tlio Frcncli were on tho road townrdi Fort Kd- ward, and would iittncli it " uitlicr io-diiy or tliiM nlK'it ;" liii lunt iiifornmtii>n tlmt tlii'y vrvro four miioH " tliiM Hide of tiiu curryiiig-|iliico," or nlmiit one niilo from tiio |ir«Hi'iit villHjtit <>f Qlenn'M FuIIn, and only ten or eluvon niiloa from tho cnuip. In oitlier event, tlio nvniliiit; out of tliu morning dutuchmuiit wao n good military mciiMuro. On tlio ftu|ipoHition tlmt tliu enemy were coming towards the camp, a reeminausnnce en force would Hiipply inrnniiu- tion, impede the progrrsH of tho enemy, and poHhibly drive him hack in the fuituiicH o( war. Ilut thlH wuK not tho object of tho American detachment. The general lui|>rcHtiioL', nut- withstanding tho laMt report of tho scouts at midnight, was tliut tho French dcnigncd to atUtck Fort Kdward. lience, the dostpatch of n considerable force was nilvlNahle, according to the otSoial account, "in order to catch the enemy in tlicir retreat from tho other cump, either as victors or defeated in their design." Uoncral Johnson's measure, therefore, of Bending out the detachment of the morning, was a military noccnsity ; and, however incau- tiously tho movement was conducted, the idea itself was a good one. Other parts of General Johnson's policy cannot bo so well vindicated. Tho renson^ given in his dexputchcs for hiw inactivity were not received witli favour by tlio public. All his officers advised liini to pursue tlio enemy, who might caitily have been overtaken before reaching their bouts on Lake Clinmplain, and who, if pursued, would have been caught between two firos ; for tho detachment of McQinnis was close at hand. Tho author of tho "Jicview of Military Operationt" is quite severe on this port of Johnson's conduct, and quotes passages from his official reports in proof of his unreasonable apprehensions about a renewal of tho attack. But Qencral Johnson is chiefly open to censure in not rallying all tho energies and re- sources of his army in pressing on to Ticondcroga and Crown I'oint. Although he lost the opportunity, by not |iursuing liis enemies, of sailing down the lake in their own b.itenux, he might have hn^tcnod in season tho arrangements for his own boats, [nf wliich one hundred and twenty,* or a fifth of the required number, wore already tranKportcd,] if tho groat idea of the expedition had been deeply and enthusiastically fixed in his mind. Hut it was not. Tho work of building a large fort seems to havo supplanted the sical of mili- tary aggression. Even in his official report of the battle, written the day oftcr, he says : — •' Tho reinforcements will bo with us in a few days. When those /rc»A iroopn arrive, I shall immediately — ttt about building a fort!" But the provincial troops had not left tlieir homes and farms to build forts. Thoy brought their muskets and not spades, artillery-wagons and not wheelbarrows. The result of Johnson's fort-building mania was not only to thwart tho design of his expedition, but to create disaffection among his officers and troops, whoso spirit was " bent up to its full height," and who wanted to mnicli against tho enemy. A strong consideration in extenuation of General Johnson's inactivity was the wound ho had received in tho battle, and which disabled him from self-denying physical service. But the objects of tho campaign would have been furthered if ho had resigned the command to General Lyman, rather than discourage the colonies and their troops by an uniiiiiltHiy and unproductive delay. The fort might have been built at any other time ; but then was tho opportunity to capture Crown Point, or ot least to gain possession* of 'J'iconderoga. No- thing but tho glory of tho victory hu had gained screened General Johnson from a serious examination into his conduct. Tho American officers ond men behaved gallantly at tho camp. Dioskau remarked to General Johnson, " In the morning your troops fought like brave boys, at noon like men, but in tho afternoon like devils." Tlio last comparison probably means, in military lan- guage, like heroes. Tho provincial soldiers from Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hamp- shire, and New York, contended for their lives, their homes, and their country. Their maskcts did more service thon tho cannon. Tho "Review of Military Operations" states * Colonial Documonts, vi. 1014. -,i55*-,» ,,y,iUM%iSI3rPSL*i«©afc^K*fe>i^S« ' ^tagvJai fcVU i tttfiNift ''' rnriU Fort Ed- tlint tlii>y ■were HOIlt villii^o lif it, tliu HL'iiiiino; ihilinn Hint the ipply Inl'iiriim- iitiiiit'H (if wiir. iijircasioL', iiot- vh (IcHi^nvd to iiblv, uucurding lio (itlier cuiiip, !, tlierelore, of liowuvcr iuuau- Tlio rensonii lio iiiibltc. All ft'i'tukuu hct'uro e boon ctiught The nutliur uf 'h conduct, and hcuHiuna about norgicB and re- ugh ho lost the r own bateaux, [iif which one spiirtod,] if tlio his mind. Hut liu zeal of mili- ftor, he snys : — f nrrive, 1 shall left their homes rtillory-wagons t only to thwart d troops, wliobo the enemy. A 3 wound lie had il service. But :hc command to unniiiitnry and lut ilieu was tho onderoga. No- \ from a serious au remarked to , noon like men, in military Inn- ut, New Hamp- jountry. Their aerations" states mtn^mm^issiismi 49 that " the cannon Wftsi so lll-goryod and so highly olovatod, that they did, beyond all contro- Torsy, no execution at all, — none of tlio dead being obycrved Ui have been killeil by caiinun- ahot; but amongst tho tops of tho trees, thirty and forty feet high, they made great and useless havoo."* This accouim for tho fact that Dieskau'a men wore able lo stand their ground for so long a time. Tln' few pieces of cannon brought into play were chictly valu- able In frightening tho Indians and irregulars, and perhaps in doing some execution among them in tho distance. Oenoral Johnson hiniself had a good opinion of his artillery ullicer, whoso skill he highly commci. In in his otticial report; and a gunner, " who acts under Captain Eyres," writes, in a \> tier from the camp, that "our artillery made lanes, stroct.-), and alleys, through their an:iy!"f The truth probably lies somewhere between these violent extremes. No doubt tho artillerymen behaved bravely, " hit or mias," and united with tho infantry in sustaining tho character of the army. On the whole, both the French and American armies maintained their reputation at tho battle of Lake Oeorgo. The tactics of tho two commanders, though open to exceptions, were probably eiiual lo tho average generalship of good ofliccrs in times of emergency and in positions remote from support. Dieskau wore tho laurels of tho morning, and Johnson those of the evening. Both commanders sleep in soldiers' graves. In all criticisms upon their tactics and manoi^-ment, they should receive tho respect duo to patriotic, well- meaning, and bravo men, who did good service in tho cause of their respective countries. NOTE X.— rogo 19. ' fl A E N D B D I K 8 K A U. Bahun be Dikskau was of Saxon extraction. He had scrvod in tho campaigns of France in the preceding war under Marshal Saxe, and was present at tho celebrated battle of Fontenoy, in 1745. Colonel Babcock, who was captain of a company engaged in the "bloody morning scout," writing nearly twenty years oftor, says:— "Tho very enter- prising general tho baron was a great favourite of the celebrated Marshal Saxe, and by him strongly recommended to the French king as one of tho best officers of his rank in all his Most Christian Majesty's forces, lie was colonel of a regiment of infantry, and, at the time of Marshal Saxo's death, lieutenant-colonel of Saxe's regiment of horse." J Tlie bai-on sailed from France, in the spring of 1755, with Monsieur do Vauilreuil, Governor-General of Canada, in a fleet which was conveying three thousand regular soldiers destined for Canada and Nova Scotia. Of these, eight companies were captured in the Lys and Alcide by British men-of-war, and eight hundred men wore landed at Louisburg. The baron and governor-general had a narrow escape, a fog alone preventing the captnro of tho whole fleet. In his resolute but unsucoossful expedition into Northern New Vork, Dieskau acted upon his maxim, " Bolducaa wins." It finally won for him death. His bravery mot with a sad end. It is reported that, when ho found tbn Canadians and Indians unwilling or afraid to support his attack upon the camp, ho could not repress his indignation, and broke out against their conduct with mournful invective. The baron was wounded in the leg during * ffevieto of the Miliiary OiMrratiom from 1763 to 1756, p. OS, note. This review, whkh i.s in Iho form of "a letter addressed to » noblemnn In London," 1757, is supposed to have been written either jointly by Oovernor Livingston, CbiefJustlca Wm. Smith, and John Morrin Scott, Esq., or by one of the three,— probably Wm. Smith,— In consultation with the others. It mnrto % great senpation in Its d.ty. It is strmiijly partisan ia its chnractur, and is severe upon Lieutonant-Oovernor Dolancey andOeneral Johnson. Its statements, how- ever, de.surve a airel'ul consideratiOD. No uue replied to it. t Colonial Pocumonts, vi. 1005. . tDoe.Hlat. of \. Y., iv. 488. I fi ■-**;ja£fei,i«BBiij^^,ij^ya^»tne, and inarched e. Marshal Sase 1 Dieskau, did not at the year 1630. Le Gardeur, the id St. Pierre ; and I., par Oaprfigv-., ?08. 61 hence the family name of Le Gardeur de St. Pierre. The family was one of the ancient Ciiiiadinn families of distinction, and its members have taken a prominent part in all the wars of France, and have been in its expeditions from Louisiana to Acadia and Newfound- land.* The first notice I find in our Colonial history of Le Gardeur de St. Pierre is from the pen of George Wasih.vqton, who met him at Fort Lo Boeuf in 1703, then commander of tlio French posts in Western Pennsylvania. In his letter to Governor Dinwiddle, of Vir- ginia, of which Washington was the bearer, he says: — "As to the summons you sent me to retire, I do not think myself obliged to obey it. Whatever may be your instructions, I am here by virtue of the orders of my general, [the .Marquis du Quesne, Governor- General of Canada ;] and I entreat you, sir, not to doubt one moment but that I am determined to conform myself to them with all the exactness and resolution which can be expected from the best ofBccr." Washington, in his Journal, states, " This commander is a kniglit of the military order of St. Louis,f and named Le Gardeur do St. Pierre. Ho is an elderly gentleman, and has much the air of a soldier. He was sent over to take the command immediately upon the death of the late general, and arrived hero about seven doys before me. * * * Ho told me that the country belonged to them; that no Englishman had a right to trade upon those waters ; and that he had orders to make every person prisoner who attempted it on the Ohio, or the waters of it." The designs of the French, as indicated by Washington's visit to Le Gardeur de St. Pierre, led to Washington's expedition to the great Meadows and Fort Necessity in 1754, and to Braddock's expedition in 1755. As Braddock was defeated on the 9th of July, Le Gardeur de St. Pierre, who probably retained his command of the forts of that region and assisted in managing the campaign, had time to repair to Montreal, and was, perhaps, summoned there to consult with Dieskau. At any rate, there he is found at the head of a large body of Indians and Canadians. The Indians alone mustered from 800 to 1000, which was the largest body collected together during the war. St. Pierre was the most useful Canadian officer in the French army, and was especially influential among the Indians, with whom he was skilful in making treaties. His personal presence, as described by Washington, was winning and imposing. He is said to have lost the sight of one of his eyes, being called by a writer "the famous one-eyed warrior." J A gunner, writing from the camp on 10th September, 1756, says, "Their Major-General was killed; he was the same who commanded at Ohio ; his last words were, ' Fight on, boys ; this is Johnson, not Brad- dock.' "I He ended this life on Sept. 8th, 1755, near the spot where Colonel Williams fell in the morning NOTE XII.— Page 20. SIB WILLIAM JOHNSON. Sir William Johnson was born in Ireland in 1714. He was the nephew of Sir Peter Warren, the admiral who distinguished himself at Louisburg in 1745, and who married the sister of James Delancey, Lieutenant-Q jvernor of New York. Sir Peter Warren scoured • I am Indebted for the above Information to E. B. O'Cauaqhan, M.D., of Albany, the author of the Bistory of New Nellierland, and superintendent of the publication of the Documentary tlistory of New York, 4 vols., and its OiUmial Documents, 9 vols. He searched several works In culling this lnlbrm:>tiou— an Illustration of the difficulty of procuring minute historical details. Dr. O'Callagban's sickness prevented furtlier iesear^h. t lu;". Is the third order In France, and was instituted by I^uis XIV. in 1693, iwing designed purely for the encour..gement of the generals and officers of the mmy.—RolVt Uittory, v. 100. X Joseph Whito, Esii., in an address at WlUlams College, 1853, p. 20. I Colonial Documents, vL 1005. msaiMg^^i^^esmi&miiimmsiesiBm^eimi. gg'gatiawss wateB c iBiKWJ iaBaaiiai^^^ the title to abont 15,000 acres of land in the preaent conntf of Montgomery, lying conti- guons to the lands of the Mohawk Indians, and sent to Ireland for his nephew, then about 20 or 25, to take care of the estate. The young man improved the advantages of his position. He managed his trust with much sagacity, traded with the Indians, and was thrifty in increasing his own temporal fortunes. He was very popular with the Indians. This arose from his residence among them, his familiar manners and associations, his frequent adoption of their dress, his knowledge of their language, and his disposition to promote their interests. Unfortunately, indeed, ho lived on such free and easy terms with the Indians that his morals derived no improvement from his temptations. The natural traits of his character fitted him for the work he had undertaken ; and, soon commending himself to the government, he was appointed Commissioner of Indian Affairs. He was many years colonel in the Albany militia, and became a member of his Majesty's Council for the Province of Now York. He was a member of the Albany Convention in 1 754, and took a prominent part in arranging the negotiations with the Indians. He was appointed a major-general in 1755. The expedition to Crown Point was confided to General Johnson. Whatever may have been his errors in the management of that expedition, the . viotory gained at Lake George secured for him great dclat and a substantial remuneration. A title of nobility and £5000 were no mean additions to his importance and resources. General Johnson was present at Ticonderoga, in command of the Indians, in the unfor- tunate campaign of General Abercrombio, in 1758. His military services were very considerable throughout the whole war. By the death of Pridoaux, he succeeded to the command of the western brigade, which was despatched, in 1750, to capture Niagara; and his success in taking this important fortifiod post added much to his military reputation. In fact, no man in the colonies gr.ined so much distinction in the war, or derived personally 80 much benefit from it, as Sir William Johnson. His first residence was at the mouth of the Schoharie Creek, but he afterwards erected, at Fort Johruon, a large stone mansion, on the north side of the Mohawk, and on the west bank of a small creek, about three miles west of the village of Amsterdam. This building was a noble structure for its day, and ffas fortified until the end of the war. It is still standing, and retains its old name. About ten years before his death. Sir Willirm Johnson erected Johnson Hall, a large wooden building with detached stone wings, situated one mile west from the village of Johnstown. He lived in comparative affluence.* Sir William Johnson's dream contest with the old sachem Hendrick is not a victory that reflects much credit upon bis moral tactics. The following account of it is taken from Schoolcraft's Notes of the Iroquois. Hendrick, or " Soiengarahta," is the chief who granted to General, afterwards Sir William Johnson, the "dream-land," as it was significantly called. At an entertainment given by the general, which lasted several days, our chief was one of the guests. Johnson had recently received from his royal master several military dresses, resplendent with scarlet and gold, which were temptingly displayed in view of the guests. One morning, before the close of the entertainment, Hendrick told his pale-faced friend and patron that ho had had a dream the night previous. " Indeed !" said the General ; "and what did ray red brother dream ?" " I dreamt," replied the chief, " that you presented me wl'h one of those dresses," — pointing to them. " You shall have it," was the prompt response ; and in a few moments the person of the majestic chief was ensconced in the splendid uniform he had coveted. It is necessary, in this connection, to observe that one of the prevailing superstitions of the Iroquois was an implicit faith in dreams, which, they said, were sent for wise purposes by the Great Spirit, and that, if a dream is not fulfilled, at whatever hazard or sacrifice, some evil may fall upon the dreamer. At a subsequent entertainment, given by General Johnson, Hendrick waa invited, as before. On this occasion it was the General's turn to dream ; he dreamt, or *8eeSlmm'8lUstory of Scbolurle County and Border Wan. .^ ^ ,,^. ^ ''M^i^mimmimmm jriimiimumttm'': ■"> ■, lying conti- [f , then about intnges of his ians, and was n the Indians, ociations, his dispoiiition to ^sy terms with Tho natural I commending irs. He was jcsty's Council nin 1754, and was appointed ed to General expedition, the . remuneration, and resources. , in the unfor- ices were very iccceded to the •e Niagara ; and :ary reputation. :ivcd personally rwards erected, and on the west , This building war. It is still Willii'm Johnson gs, situated one ce.* ot a victory that it is taken from liicf who granted was significantly I days, our chief ,1 master several igly displayed in it, Ilendrick told ous. " Indeed !" replied the chief, " You shall hayo najestic chief was Ms connection, to 1 implicit faith in irit, and that, if a lay fall upon the m, Hendrick was an ; he dreamt, or 53 pretended to Hendrick to have dreamt, that the Iroquois chief had made him a present of three thousiuul acres of land, describing its locality. Tho chief replied, " You shall havo it, but I will never dream with you again. Your dreams are too hard forme." The conveyance of his tract of land afterwards received the royal sanction or confirmation, and is, at the present day, known as " the Royal Grant."* The number of acres is repre- sented by some writers as much greater, f The following notice of Sir William Johnson, taken from an American journal of tho day, probably gives a fair insight into his general habits and mode of life :— " Major- General Johnson (an Irish gentleman) is universally esteemed in our parts for the part lie sustains. Besides his experience and skill as an old officer, he is particularly happy in making himself beloved by all sorts of people, and can conform to all company and con- versations. Ho is very much of the fine gentleman in genteel company. But, as tho inhabitants next to him are mostly Dutch, he sits down with them, and smokes his tobacco, drinks flip, and talks of improvements, bears, and beaver-skins. Being sur- rounded with Indians, he speaks several of their languages well, and has always some of them with him. His house is a safe and hospitable retreat for them from the enemy. He takes core of their wives and children when they go out on particular parties, and even wears their dress. In short, by his honest dealings with them in trade, and his courage, which has often been successfully tried with them, and his courteous behaviour, he has so endeared himself to them, that they chose him one of their chief sachems or princes, and esteem him as their common father." Sir William Johnson died very suddenly on tho 24th of June, 1774, just before tho war of the Revolution. Many persons believe that he poisoned himself — especially the old settlrr.v "ut there is no clear evidence of the fact. His mind had become much perp'XL . 'tV the threatening state of political affair.s. After his death, his son, Sir John ill ! oined the British cause against the Americans, as did other members of the I' Sir William Johnson was buried at Johnstown, in a vault beneath the Episcopal church erected in 1772. When the church was burnt down, the site was so altered ns to leave the vault outside the walls. The estates of the family were confis- cated in consequence of the part they took in the Revolution. NOTE XIII.— Pago 20. PniNEAS LTHAN. Geneeal Lyman was one of the sons of New England who are ready to embark in any thing for their own interests or the interests of their country. He was born at Sheffield, Connecticut, and was graduated at Yale College in 17.18. He took a high rank at the bar, and represented at times the legislature of his State. Just before the French war he became one of the associates in the Connecticut company, formed to buy and settle lands on the Susquehanna. In 1754, he octed as major-general in the army, and led the van of the expedition to Crown Point. Stopping at the " great carrying-place" on the Hudson, he commenced building a fort there whilst waiting for the rest of the army to come up. This fort was first called Fort Lyman ; and this name was the popular title for some time • Notes of the Iroquois, p. 417. t SImm's History (cives, on the nuthnrlfy of Hmrij Fny Yattt, the numbor of acres at 100,000. Others call It "12 miles square." I find the following reference to the Royal Grant In Rer. John Taylor's Missionary Tour through tho Mohawk and niack River Countries In 1802. "Norway, [In Herkimer county.l The Koyal (irant, or Sir Wllllnm .lofanson's land, Is a tolerably gaoA tract. It lies between the Upper and Lowar Canada Creeks. It is high land, and is a grating country."— Ztoc. ^u<. JV. l'., ill. 1U9. \\ 04 after OeneralJohnson had changed the name to Fort Edward "in honour of one of the princes of the royal blood."* General Lyninn ninrchcd from Fort Edward to Lake Gcorgo with the heavy artillery, and reached the lake five days before the battle. He is entitled to more reputation for important sorvico ia the battle tliau he has received. General Johnson, who had been wounded in the early part of the dny, retired to liis tent, and the eommand devolved upon General Lyman. All that a brave and intelligent officer could do in rallying the spirit and in directing the movements of his men was done ; and yet, in General Johnson's official report of the action, General Lyman's name is not even men- tioned. Dr. Dwight exalts Lyman and depreciates Johnson. In the following year, General Lyman commanded at Fort Edward. The sources of information within my reach do not enable me to give any other details of General Lyman's military life until the year 1762, towards the close of the war, when ho commanded about twenty-five hundred provincial troops sent to reinforce the British fleet in the expedi- tion against Havana. Israel Putnam was lieutenant-colonel. General Lyman's troops assisted in the storming of the oastlo El Mora, whose capture led to the fall of Havana. After the peace, General Lyman was commissioned by his brother officers to receive the prize-money gained in the expedition ; and he repaired to England for that purpose. He was also charged by a company in the colonies, called "Military Adventurers," to solicit from the crown a grant of land on the Missis: ippi. After a delay of several years, during which time General Lyman became disheartened and mentally deprisscd, ho was finally successful in obtaining a grant. On his return to America, ho was accompanied by Colo- nel Putnam and a few others on a tour to the Great West by the way of New Orleans, and np the Mississippi to the neighbourhood of Natchez. After locating their lands, they went back to the "land of steady habits," for the purpose of encouraging emigration to the sunny Southwest. General Lyman returned the following year, and made some pro- gress in "forming an establishment at Natchez, where he remained till his death. "f NOTE XIV.— Page 21. GPIIRAIH WILLIAMS. Ephhaim Williams was descended from the best Puritan ancestry. Ho was always enterprising. Having lost his parents early in life, he was brought up by his grandfather, Abraham Jackson. In his youth, he made several voyages to Europe, visiting Engl.ind, Spain, and Holland, probably for commercial purposes. In 1744, he was made captain and put in command of Fort Massachusetts, in the western part of the province, in the valley of the Hoosio. After the war, ho had an important agency in settling that section of country. At the beginning of tho campaign of 1755, he was made colonel, and com- manded the third Massachusetts regiment. His aide was William Williams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Colonel Williams, being well versed in warfare, especially with the Indians, was placed at the head of the detachment sent out against Dieskou's column. The particulars of tiiis expedition are given in the discourse. His great error on that day was in not sending out scouts. Colonel Williams was early struck with a ball through the head, and fell dead on * Itlg Royal Illghneu, Prince Edward, became Duke of York In 1758. In ihat year he attended, as Tolan- tser, the naval expedition under Lord Howe, fitted oat ibr the rapture of Cherburg. Many volunteem of bigh extraction accompanied the expedition In order to counteract the aversion growing out of the conduct of the late commandem. The expedition was aucresuful. Trlnce Kdward anerwards came near being taken prisoner rrhlls reconnoiterlng near St. Malo. He was a personage of some distinction. t See Life of Israel Putnam, by William Cutter. f one of tho Lnko Gcoigo [c i» cntittod Dil. General tent, and tho iccr could do ; and yet, in 3t evou mon- le sources of icral Lyman's Handed about 1 the expedi- rman's troops tU of Havana, to receive tho purpose. lie ers," to solicit years, during ho was finally anied by Colo- n Orleans, and lir lands, they emigration to lade some pro- death."t 55 the spot. Two of his companions immediately concealed the body from tho scalping-knifo of tho advancing Indians, llis body was found after the battle, unniutilatod, and it was buried some fifteen or twenty rods southeast of where ho foil, at tlio foot of "a huge pino bi'side tho military road." About twenty years ago, his nepliow, Dr. William H. 'Williams, of Raleigh, North Carolino, "disinterred and carried off tho slcuH." The ancient pine has fallen, but the stump remains. Two smaller trees have sprung from the parent stock, and still shade tho place of burial. E. W. B. Canning, Esq., wlio superin- tended the erection of tho monument on the part of the alumni of the college, and who explored tho ground carefully, says, "Directed by an aged man, who dug ' i the skull, I found the grave, and had it refilled, and a largo pyramidal boulder sot over it, witli the inscription E. W. 1755." The rock on which Colonel Williams fell is now surmounted by a marble monument, twelve feet high. Tho earth has been excavated a little around tho rock, so that the top of the rock is now seven feet from the ground. Tlie monument was erected by the alumni of Williams College in 1854, and is an appropriate, tasteful, and worthy memorial. It is surrounded by a good iron fence, wliich visitors find the means of climbing. The writer, without recommending others to follow liis example, went up to the monument for the pur- pose of copying the intcription; and as ho now gives tho inscriptions, verbatim et literatim, this historical motive cannot bo so well plead hereafter. The inscriptions were copied exactly according to tho words in the lines, and tho division of syllables, os cut upon the marble, but they are here given continuously, partly to save space, and partly to avoid the exhibition of an unskilful performance, for the words and syllables are arranged (at leost on two sides of the monument) in not the most tasteful style. This is a matter of regret. I notice it simply to put the Lake George "Committee of Monuments" upon their guard, And to induce them to see that tho stonecutter has a fac-simile of the work to be done. The beauty of a monumental inscription depends very much on the arrangement of the lines and of the words. I ^1 He was always llis grandfather, isiting England, s made captain province, in the ling that section olonel, and com- 3, a signer of the ians, was placed articulars of this 1 not sending out and fell dead on I attendod, «s volun- Msny Tolunteem of g out of the conduct ,m<> near twlog taken The following inscription is on the eait side of the monument, towards the plank road : — To the memory of Colonel Ephhaim Williams. A native of Newton, Mass., who «fter gallantly defending the frontiers of his native State, served under General John- son against tho French and Indians, and nobly fell near this spot in tlio bloody conflict of Sept. 8th, 1755, in the 42, year of his age. On the north side, towards the lake : — A lover of puace and learning, as courteous and generous as he was brave and patriotic. Col. Williams sympatliizod deeply with tho privations of tho frontier settlers, and by his will, made at Albany on his way to the field of battle, provided for tho founding among them of an institution of learning, which has since been chartered as Williams College. On the viett side, towards the old road : — Forti ac magnanimo EPII. WILLIAMS, Collegii Oulielmi Conditori ; Qui in hostibtia patriiB repollendis, propo hoe saxum croidit; grati alumni posuerunt, a. d. 1854. On tho touth side, towards the toll-gate : — This monument is erected by the alumni of Williams College : tho ground donated by £. U. IIOSBKUANS, M. W. Pgbbine, J. IIavilani). Tho monument makes a beautiful appearance from the road, and is looked for and admired by oil travellers. The monument is more accessible from the old road than from the new ; but the old road is not in very good condition, although it can be used. IWB i jTM l CaWI I BrtlM I ■!IHRBf!alH!t«>tlE!«Wxe 56 Joseph Wiiitk, Esq.,* tlius suras up the traits of Colonel Willifims' cliavactcr :— " For •whatever is known of his opinions, as well ns of his personal appearance, hal)itH, and tnainers, wo are indebted to the impressions ho made upon his contemporaries, as revealed in the scanty notices of the times and in the few traditions which yet linger amongst us." From these wo learn that his "person was largo and fleshy," his countenance benignant, and his appearance commanding ; that ho loved and excelled ia the rough games and feats of agility and strength ss common in his day, and often engaged in them with his soldiers during the intervals of duty ; that his " address was easy, his manners simple and con- ciliating;" that he loved books, and the society of literary men, "and often lamented the W,.nt of a liberal education ;" that to these endowments were added the higher qualities of mind— quick and clear perceptions, a solid judgment, a lofty courage, and an unwaver- ing constancy in scenes of danger, and that military genius which needed only a fitting opportunity to place him in the highest walks of his profession. JIo knew both how to command and to conciliate the affections of his men. " He was greatly beloved by them when living, and lamented when dead." And, finally, in the language of Colonel Worth- ington, who knew him well, " Humanity made a most striking trait in his character, and universal benevolence was his ruling passion." He truly adds, " His memory will always be dear." NOTE XV.— Pago 22. EENDBICK, THE MOHAWK SACHEM. The following particulars of the life of Hendrick are taken from Schoolcraft's Notes of the Iroquois : — «' The great Mohawk sachem fought against the French at first as a youthful scout, and afterwards as an approved war-captain. There was a time in our settlements when there was a moral force in the name of King Hendrick and his Mohawks, which had an electric effect; and, at the time he died, his loss was widely and deeply felt and lamented even in Great Britain. The precise time of Hendrick's birth cannot be ascertained ; but several circumstances conspire to induce the belief that it took place some time between the yeors 1680 and 1G90. It is said that he on two occasions visited his British sovereign. On ono of these occasions, doubtless the last, which is conjectured to have been about the year 1740, his Majesty presented him a rich suit of clothes,— a green coat, set off with Brussels and gold lace, and a cocked hat, such as was worn by the court gentry of that period. In these he sat for his portrait, which was executed by a London artist. From this portrait, which has no date, engravings were made, of a large cabinet-size, and coloured in con- formity with the original. I saw ono of these engranngs in the family of a relative in Schenectady, which has, however, been long since destroyed by fire ; and recently I have seen another, which had been, for nearly a century, the property of Jeremiah Lansing, Esq., of Albany, N. Y. The prosopological indicia of his countenance denote a kind disposi- tion, honesty of purpose, and an order of intellect much above mediocrity. Altliough his complexion was the ' shadowed livery of the burning sun,' his figure and countenance were singularly prepossessing and commanding. The concurrent testimony of every tra- ditionist awards to him great natural talents, judgment, ahd sagacity. As a diplomatist and orator lie was greatly distinguished, and divided the palm only with his brother Abraham, of pious memory, who was exclusively devoted to civil pursuits. Hendrick's * .Joseph White, Ksq's., address before the alumni of Williams College, 1855, commemorative of EpnitAlM WaiJAMS, abounds in historical Incident and eloquent description. I am indebted to this address for the biograpblcal hints of Colonel Williams in the beginntng of this note, and also Jbr other items of Information. *j«WI»^^SI^«e»W«S«*^**i«*!**sS*^ 57 ^ jtcr:— "For ha1)itH, and , an rovcalod imongst us." e benignant, les and foais I liis soldiers pic and con- lamcntcd tho ;hcr qualities an unwavor- only a fitting both how to )ved by them ilonel Worth- laracter, and y will always greatest speech was delivered on tho 2il July, 1751, 'in the name and behalf of the Six Nations,' in answer to a speech made by the Lieutcniint-Oovernor of New Vork, 'in the name of tho King of Great Itritain, and in tho namo and in bohalt' of the American c(do- nies,' which were all represented on tho occasion. This spcocli, with several others, is reported at full length in the London Gentlemen's Magazine, tho editor wliereof siieaks of these speeches in tho following terms: — 'They contain strains of clonuenco which might Jiavo done honour to TuUy or Demosthenes.' Tho speeches of Ilemlrick and his brother Abraham, made tho same day above named, in the name and behalf of the Mohawks of the Upper Castle (Canajoharie) to the Governor of New York, attended by several sachems of tho other (six) nations, weio also evincive of much talent and elonuencc. The jour- nalists of tho day paid our chief the following high compliment, which I have every reason to believe wos not 'tides'" ' or exaggerated praise : — ' For capacity, bravery, ■vigour of mind, and imm ie .. 'v, combined, he excelled a .; boiiginal inha- bitants of which wo have .....y knu ^e.' Ilendrick wan, in h. la/, estecm"d tho bravest of the bravo among tho Iroquois. His spirit, energy, and martial prowess, were the subjects of much laudation. IIo was the leader in behalf of tho Itritish in several expeditions of parties of his red warriors against the Canadian French and their tawny as.sociatcs ; for ho and his people were ever the fast friends and uncompromising allies i,f the British, on this important frontier. The last and principal of tliese expeditions was to Lake George, in which our hero fell, mortally wounded, at the memorable battle of September 8th, 1755." «■ i ift's Notes of rul scout, and ts when there ad an electric lented even in ; but several een the years ign. On ono lout tho year with Brussels at period. In this portrait, oured in con- a relative in Bcently I have Lansing, Esq., kind disposi- ij. Altliough I countenance ' of every tro- 1 a diplomatist ih his brother !. Hcndrick's atlve of ErnitAiM Is address for tho I of iDformatiOD. NOTE XVI.— Page 22. ISRAEL PUTNAM. Israel Putkam served as a private at the battle of Lake George, not having probably yet received his commission of second lieutenant of tho sixth company of the tliird Con- necticut regiment. He marched under Colonel Whiting on " tho bloody morning scout." He was frequently detached as a ranger to go in quest of tho enemy. He was a fearless spirit, genial and generous in his social traits, and shrewd after Indians in a forest. Ho has made many an excursion about Lake George, has often pulled an oar upon its waters, and then, drawing up his boat on the shore, toiled his way through the forests and over tho moun- tains. He was several times employed, immediately after the battle of Lake George, in ranging through the country towanls Ticonderoga and Crown Point. Captain Putnam and Captain Rogers were both famous as rangers. The latter was a New Hampshire man, and turned against us in the Revolution. Major Putnam was at Fort Ed7^.ird with General Webb when Montcalm was expected to attack Fort William Henry. i£e accompanied the general on a visit to tho latter fort, and obtained permission to reconnoitre on the lake. With eighteen volunteers, in three boats, he went as far as Northwest Bay, and from thence saw a large body of tho enemy on an island. Returning to the fort, lie reported to General Webb the certainty of tho enemy's approach, when that timorous officer wished to retire immediately to Fort Edward, but was persuaded to wait until the next morning. General Webb then went back with Putnam. The latter was anxious to assist in the defence of the fort, but could not obtain permission. After the capture of Fort William Henry, ho was sent to reconnoitre the enemy. His account of the scene at the ruins may be found under the note on Fort William Henry, at tho end. Major Putnam was in Abercrombie's unsuccessful expedition to Ticonderoga in 1759, and was in the detachment with Lord Howe when he fell. Putnam was taken prisouer i L »Sc^!iKiSs/ti»,.i-f^iiiie^ii>afitmB^ 1 t VMiOKSba^^^-^*-'-^!!^^ ^rr*^-^*iltt^i' i Fllni 6S the same year, on one of liis oxcurgions near Lake Champlain, and carried to Montreal ; out ho was goon rolcn.sud nn cxchiin);c. In 1750, bo accompanied General AnilierHt, was at the capture of Tieondcroga and Cruwn Point, and at the capitulation of Montreal ia 1700. In 17C;J, he served with flcncral I.yman in the British expedition which captured Havana. In 17G4, ho took part in the war against Pontiac, the celebrated Ottoway chief, and as colonel commanded a regiment of four hundred Connecticut troops. When the Revolutionary war broke out, Israel Putnam came forward to do his part. lie assisted at Bunker's Hill, and some make him the gcneral-in-chief on that memorable day. lie had much to do with its preparations and movements. He was afterwards appointed a major-general by Congress. His services in the Revolution wore many and arduous. He yras beloved by Washington. He died in 1700, aged 72, having made a profession of religion a few years before. At the time of his death, ho was senior major-general iu the armies of the United States. NOTU XVII.— Page 22. THE OrriCEBS AND THEIB QRAVES. Among the provincial officers slain at the battle of Lake Qeorge, were Colonel Ephraim Williams, Colonel Moses Titcomb, Major Noah Ashley, Captains Elisha Hawlcy, Moses Porter, Jared Ingcrsoll, Solomon Keys, Stoddart, Farrell, Stevens, William McGinuis, with eight lieutenants and several ensigns. Some notice of Colonel Williams has been already given. Officers of lower rank having commonly had little opportunity, cither by age or service, of personal distinction, are not much noticed in history. Colonel Moses Tilcoinb, of P)s,sex county, Massachusetts, was an officer hold in high esteem. Ho had served as major in the expedition against Louisburg. The position of his regiment in the battle of Lake George was on tlie extreme right of the camp, by itself, with no other regiment before or behind it. Dieskau laid out his strength in his attack on the right after he had failed on the centre ; but the " Massachusetts boys" held their ground. The three Massachusetts regiments under the command of Ruggles, Titcomb, and Williams, [now commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Pomroy,] were all stationed on the right, — that of Tit< comb being on the extreme right. These regiments lost one hundred and twenty-two men out of tho one hundred and ninety-one provincial troops who fell on that day, with the only two colonels who were among the killed. Captain Elisha llawlrij had served under Williams at Fort Massachusetts. He was ia "the bloody morning scout." Being shot through the lungs, be was brought to tho camp, where he died in a few days.* Captain Moses Porter, of Iladley, Massachusetts, was also in " the bloody morning scout" Whilst defending himself in the retreat, be was made prisoner, bound to a tree, and cut in pieces by the Indians.f Captuin William McGinnis, of Schenectady, New York, commanded the detachment which gallantly marched from Fort Edward to the camp. This detachment captured the baggage of tho French army, and assisted in driving the enemy farther on towards their boats. Towards the end of the action, a ball glanced from a tree and struck McGinnis on the head, making a severe contusion. He, however, continued to command ; but he charged a com- panion-in-arms, in case he fell to the ground, to protect him from the tomahawks of the Indians.^ He was carried on ahorse to the camp. A letter from a soldier, written on the 10th, says, "Captain Maginiss is \r\ the pains of death. "§ lie died on that day.|| My materials do not supply gje with information about the other officers. • Uoj't's Antliiuarian ReBuarchcs. f Ibid. % Ibid. I Colonial Doc., vl. 10O5. | Ibid. lOOT. i8^rniDg scout." ee, and cut in ichment which d the baggage Is their boata. IS on the head, barged a com- ahawks of the written on the day.ll B Ibid. 1007. 60 The officers were naturally buried by thcraselvoi, bb oompanions-in-nrms ; and tlicir graves are pointetnchuiuut to get safely witliiii the linen, recover tlicir opirifo, iinil make ready for the defence. General Lyman had arrived only five days before witli a diviHion of the army and the heavy artillery. All IheHO circuniMfanccs, taken togpthcr, constitute a case of proviiloiitial interpositios irorthy to bo enrolled among tlio grateful rcminitjconceii of a religious peuplc. 2. The rrmlti likely to Imvo followed the buccc»» of Dieskau'H expedition Increase the claim for the recognition of our dependence upon Qod and our gratitude for Ilin provi- dential deliverance, The fate of the whfile northern frontier was connected with tlie issues of this engagement. Fort Kdward would have been a victory "cheap" enough after Johnsoii's defeat ; and then the route was a plain one to Albany. The distance was short, and the prijo was great. The scenes of horror wh'ch might or would bavo occurred can- not be known to finite mind. Great desolation by firo, plunder, and ibo sword, was the sad prospect. iSucb, at least, were the apprehenMions of intelligent and brave men at the time. The author of " The Review of Militanj Operuitons" writes thus : — '• iuoskau, having in vain Waited the coming up of our army, at last resolved hinii'elf to advance towards them, and, if ho proverl victorious, to desolate our northern settlements, lay the towns of Albany and Schenectady in ashes, and cut off all communication with Oswego. A dreadful resolution, my lord. And had he succeeded — I tremble at the thought — had he succeeded ! But the Supremo Disposer of events had not yet devoted us to ruin, and therefore, like the counsels of Ahitliophel, lilasted the sanguinary purpose."* In another place, the same writer says ; — " The repulse of the French delivered us from such unspeakable calamity, naturally to bo apprehended from the enemy's success, that we have infinite reason to thank the God of battles fur thus remarkably rescuing us from the jaws of perdition."f Colonel DAncnc'K, who wa« a captain in " the bloody morning scout," thus states the case in n letter to Dr. Cooper, 1773: — "Witness the engagement he had with Baron Dieskau on the 8th September, 1 7o5, (a day th.nt I shall ever have great reason to remember, for I lost nine- teen men that morning out of sixty that were under my command,) — an action as important in its consequences as any that ever happened to this country, from the first settlement of it to the present day Had the Baron succeeded in his attempt against Sir William, this country, at least great part of it, would have been deluged in Blood and Slaughter; and such scenes of Horror and Distress would have ensued, as would shock the ear of the most obdurate wretch. * * * The City of Albany would have fallen a sacrifice to that most enterprising general, the Baron. The Baron very justly observed that, had he won the day in that action, ho would easily have cut off all supplies from General Shirley, and who, of course, must of necessity submitted to any terms the Baron would have pleased to impose. The Six Nations, had Sir William been defeated, would have joyn'd the Baron, and the City of New York would have been the Baron's head-quarters. But, thanks be to Qod, all-ind»<)tffrti%>aMiiaM8a^^ n NOTE XIX.— rnge 26. ,(«». IIIB TRBATT or PAUIH, 17.13. The Old French AVar continued until the close of 1702, when the terms of pmco wcro Bcttlc(l by Iht' Irfulij of 1'ari.i, ond eipnod in February, 171^1. Fninco wiiH iililini'il to ci'do to Orciit -Oritain not only Nova Scotia and Canada, but, "in order to cstal)li^ll pearo on solid and durable foundations, and to remove forever all suojcctn of dinputu" uhout territory, the King of Franco ceded to liii Britannic Majesty " every thing lie poHsesirica, or ought to possess, on the left side of the river Mitsissippi, cxoopt the town of Now Orleans and the island on whieli it is situated." By the same treaty, Spain, which wiis au ally of Franco in the continental war, wa^' obliged, as the means of recovering llavuua, to cede to England Florida, St. Augustine, the Buy of Pcnsacola, and all her possessions to the cast and southeast of the Mississippi. To compensate Spain for tho loss of Florido, France, by a secret treaty on tho same day, ceded to Spain New Orleans and all her territory west of the Mississippi. The present bouudurics of tho United States wcro obtained by subsequent treaties. Tho treaty of Paris was, for tho Anglo-Saxons on tho American continent, one of tho greatest trophies ever won in war by a victorious nation. Whilst Ureat Britain camo into permanent possession of Canada, tho territory east of tho Mississippi, including tho fertile regions northwest of tho Ohio, reverted to the United States when thuy became of age, twenty-one years after, at the treaty of 178.3. These possessions rendered certain tho acfiuisition of tho adjoining territory, and decided tho destiny of the vast domain west and southwest of the Mississippi to tho Pacific Ocean. I- - NOTE XX.— Page 28. POBT WII, tlAM IIENBY. The first notice that I fiud of a proposal to build a fort on Lake George is from LiEn- TENANT-OovKBNon, Dklanckt, who, in a letter •) the Lords of Trade, dated December, 1754, says that there ought to be a fort "at the south of Lake St. Sacrament." IIo gives four reasons:— 1. As a protection to the Mohawks. 2. A defence against the French. 8. A sup- port to our own military expeditions. 4. A declaration of right to the soil and our purpose to maintain it.* General Johnson mentions his determination to build a fort, on tho day after his arrival at the lake ; and, on the 4th of September, says, " We have fixed upon a spot for a fort; it is clearing, and near 400 men employ -d."! On Sept. 7th, tho council of oflScers decided " that a picketed fort be built without delay, under tho direction of Col. WilUama, and sufficient to contain and accommodate 100 men." At the same time, General Johnson informs the eouncil that he himself thinks a larger fort ought to be built. A week after, (Sept. 14th,) the minutes of the council state, " Tho General acquainted this council of war that his opinion had always inclined to have some stronger fortification than a picketed fort built here, but had yielded to the opinions of the council of war, and to their information that most of the troops had an aversion to digging, and that the majority of the officers and troops were eagerly bent on having only a picketed fort. * * * • Colonial DocumentB, vl. 925. t This and the following quotations from Johnson's Letters are either from his unpublished manuscripts, or from those published In Doc. Hist, of N. Y., vol. 11. ' ' --JmA xintimi^mxmaUmv ^S!^ 02 The General •lil iliikt thu (iiMiri'ul iiliitt'cl hlii council :lio opinion tiint a nt " the Rcntlcmen Wluiroupon Bina- ml «t(ircliouHcs nnd iikIo liirgo enough of this iirmy" for r lit Kort Kilwurd ml rcportH, on tho well. There are J the want of duo ' Tho farmers of 5 lake, wiisting tho frown Point, and leasure n xign that uncil (Iccido that it rant of a nufliciont the council report 26U0 recruiting at " tlio fort goes on rd to ill cnmplftion. kward in working I hope it will bo vo named Wilmam [ hope, bo speedily 5 been remarkably ly rain to interrupt ; and, on tho 2lHt, 24th, tho council ) for Fort William nsidorcd as a regi- liting, Liuutonant- ,nd returned home. 28th of November, on Captain Eyres, 1 waH not without inuary, 175C. be Been that it was lovember ; its con- yr*» the commander of I was then only twonty- ni, aim, at the bnmking y disastroux campaign, •h. The articles were ;randson of George 11., leorge, nho afterwards 'imri/. M •tnictlon occupying about two montlm. It further appearn that tho offlccru wore opposed to building -uch It fort. Tliey objected not only to II,.. work itsHf, w out of >.,M»un, but to the h\\.- .selected by Captain Kyre«. This (act appear. Iron, tleneral .lohnson'H Irtler of Oct. 2lM, ii.ldresM'd to the (ioverni>r, in which he Miyn: — "Ah to thU fort building here, Whau,.cT i'wi.nuKi.u.N have been nmdo to your Honour to tho contrary, I am convinced that the g,„und In the mo,t advanlnffeuuj of any which could bo choHeu "liore, and has not Within ;;7tl paces / r,.i„,/ ;,rn,i,„l Ihal ,„i„mm,^of muiii-, f,.r which i can lind no other re.iM.m Hum ignorance or obsdimcy." It Ih certain that the'»ilto of the fort always had opponeutH from tho earliest period. Tiie '• /{,rinr r,/ Miliian/ Optrationi" ntotos that "It won faulted by .Mr. Mnntrenor, tho chief-engineer."* It •ecmn, however, to havo been a favourite project with Dehmcey and Johnson; but military men have jrood reason for doubting the wisdom of its location. Its history is interesting, but sad. Keeeiving a small garrison for tho winter -.f ITM-f.O, nothing occurre,! to test its powers. Itogcrs, the celebrated ranger of New llampsliire, "nmdo many inciusion.s upon the enemy, fell on their scatter..! parlies, ii- scarce ever returned to Fort William Henry without scalps and pris„ners,"t During the summer .d' ITo the passage from Kort KdwanI to Fort William Henry was "infested and many of our ,,eo|,lo cut otl."J At this period, .Montcalm arrived in America, and one of his first oxcursio .s was to examine Crown I'oint and Tic.mderogn, and to complete the preparations at tliose • . oortant posts. The campaign in the colonies conteni|)lated nolhing l„r Fort William Henry. In January, IT.".?, Stark sallied forth from it down Lake Chaiiiplaiu, and returned after a skir mish lo receive promotion, iiut the hour of danger is at hand. Montcalm surveys it, am' its d..om is fixed in history, although delayeil bir a short period, as if to tost its c d.ili'ty in a fair contest. On tho morning of the llllh of March, tlie garrison was alarme •,., :. noise and light at a considerable distance down, the lake; and in about two hour the .uemy appeared on tho ice in front of the f„rt. They consisted of about 2tl00 troops, (regulars, Canadians, and Indians,) ju-ovided with DOO .scaling ladders and all tho ref,uisites for a brisk attack. Itut, the guns of the garrison opening a heavy tire tipon them, tliev retreat at daybreak. They, however, soon renewed the attack, with their forces arranged on the lake ami ou each side, as if to show a ,ii 1 ii ^:-i -j i 66 The 8'i.ompt to vindicate such a man as this must be a very idle employbient." 6. Some of the French writers admit that the massacre was tolerated, and that there was an indis- position to use the proper means for its suppression. The ecclesiastic who wrote <* The History of Canada, its Church and its Missions," says, *' The prisoners were cruelly mas- sacred bf the allied savages, whom the French could not, or unfortunately, perhaps, did not wish to take the trouble to stop, in their horrible thirst for blood and vengeance."* Hard was the fate of the brave soldiers. Four or five hundred reached Fort Edward that night in a body ; about as many more placed themselves under the protection of the French, and passed the night in Fort William Henry ; of the remainder, those who survived wan- dered about singly or in small companies until they reached the settlements. The guns of Fort Edward were fired for several days, in order to give the stragglers the right direction. The French burnt the fort and all the buildings at the intrenchments, and carried off all the guns, ammunition, provisions, and munitions of war ; and, seizing all the boats, sailed back with war-songs and thanksgivings to Ticonderoga, Crown Point, Montreal, and Quebec. Major Putnam, who was despatched by Qeneral Webb from Fort Edward to watch the motions of the enemy, reached Lake George just as the rear of the French army had started on its return, lie gives the following awful picture of what he saw: — "The fort was entirely destroyed ; the barracks, out-houses, and buildings, were a heap of ruins ; the cannon, stores, boats, and vessels, were all carried away. The fires wore still burning — the smoke and stench offensive and suffocating. Innumerable fragments of human skulls, and bones and carcasses half consumed, were still frying and broiling in the decaying fires. Dead bodies, mangled with scalping-knives and tomahawks in all the wantonness of Indian barbarity, were everywhere to be seen. More than one hundred women, butchered and shockingly mangled, lay upon the ground still weltering iu their gore. Devastation, bar- barity, and horror, everywhere appeared ; and the spectacle presented was too diabolical and awful either to be endured or described." This account of what Putnam saw with his own eyes, as the scene lay before him with its acts all perpetrated, confirms the general tradition of the enormity and extent of the crime. Putnam probably meant to describe the whole scene at the fort and at the intrenchments. There were " barracks, out-houses, and buildings," at both places; but in these words he may r^fer particularly to the intrtnch- menia, where most of the troops were quartered, ard which was the spot where the last of the series of barbarities was perpetrated. The idea that Putnam's account i'lcludes a glance at the fort and at the intrenchments best accords with the facts of history, emd does no violence to the narrative. The ruins of Fort William Henry still remain, a memorial of the old campaign of 1765 and of the reverses and massacre of 1767.f The splendid and imposing hotel which an enterprising company has erected for the public iu its immediate proximity stands, like a hoiise of festivity near graves, to show the contrasts of human life and the changes which a centuiy makes in the affairs of men. * " CruellemflDt musaeria par In nuragei alllSa, qu'on ne pent, on, malhenraaaement, pent^tre, qu'on ns vonlut paa ie donner In pein« d'arrtter," Ac. — Bittoin de CUnada, ftc, par H. L'AoKt Bbabsedr Di Bookbodbo. Paris, I8S2, 1. 202 t Colonel Mont i > sor makea a brief alltudon to the alie of Fort William Henrj In a letter to Captain Oreen, 1769. lie myn, " Major Eyres begnn Fort William Henry In September, and It was finished by the end of No- vember following— being an Irregular square of about SCO Ibet each aide— with ProTineiala alone, and that without any expense."— Doc. Hitt. N. K, It. t26 The plan of the fort, aa given in Blodget't Hap of the Battle of Lake Oeorge, makes Ua dimenslou a Ibvrth largw than Colonel Hontreior'a estimate. iloyiuent." 6. Some t there was an indis- ;ic who wrote " The rs were cruelly mas- ;ely, perhaps, did not vengeance."* led Fort Edward that ;ectian of the French, 9 who survived won- menta. The guns of ■s the right direction. t8, and carried off all all the boats, sailed l>oint, Montreal, and Edward to watch the le French army had he saw :—" The fort 9 a heap of ruins ; tho ere still burning — the of human skulls, and n the decaying fires, wantonness of Indian omen, butchered and •e. Devastation, bar- :ed was too diabolical Putnam saw with his confirms the general bly meant to describe barracks, out-houses, Bularly to the intrench- it where the last of the >ant i'l^cludes a glance ' history, and does no old campaign of 1755 ly has erected for the near graves, to show in the affairs of men. lement, pent^tre, qu'on ns db Bbabbeub Dx BoououBa. 1 a letter to Captain Oreen, s finished by the end ofNo- ProvlDclali alone, and that kei Ui dlmenaioDs a Ibvrth --W*!-"^ i^i.-Jr^'^.J .■ 67 NOTE XXI Page 28. FOHT TICONDEROQA. The fort at Ticonderoga was built in 1765, the same year that Port William Henry was built. Tlie British fort at tho inlet of the lake confronted tho French fort at the outlet. Fort Ticonderoga is situated properly on Lake Champlain, at the junction of tho outlet of Lake George with Lake Champlain. It was called by the French "Fort Vaudreuil" or •' Carillon ;" more frequently the latter.* The earliest definite notice of this fort obtained by our camp at Lake George was from the report of Captain Rogers, the famous New Hampshire scout. On the 27th of Sep- tember, 1755, lie states, "We went about one mile and a half farther, and discovered their grand encampment, crept through their guards to within about sixty rods, /ounrf a /or« building there, discovered a number of cannon mounted. We had a convenient station for a view wliich wo kept till towards night, and by the appearance of tho tents and troops, French and Indians, we judged them to be about three thousand. Their situation com- mands the passage at the caiTying-place, [between the two lakes,] and, we thought, tho passage down Champlain from Wood Creek to Crown Point."t Rogers was right in this conjecture. The works at Crown Point were enlarged in 1755 ; and, in the summer of 1756, the Mar- quis de Montcalm visited Crown Point and Ticonderoga almost immediately after his arrival in Canada, and strengthened their fortifications and garrisons. These two fortifications gave the French immense advantages in defending the approaches to Canada. Fort Ticonderoga was a point d'appui for Montcalm's expedition down the lake in 1757 for the capture of Fort Willio^. Henry. The French army of eight thousand men made a great display on their passage from Fort Ticonderoga to Lake George, and from thence to Fort AVilliam Henry. In the following year, Major-Genernl Abercrombie collected at Lake George, for the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, the largest army yet assembled in America. About six thousand regulars and ten thousand provincials embarked in nine hundred bateaux and one hundred and thirty-five whale-boats. The scene is described as mag- mficent: but never was expedition of high hope doomed to so bitter disappointment. Tho reader is referred to Bancroft's United States, vol. iv. 300-306, for a full account of this mismanaged and unfortunate campaign. Lord Howe fell at Trout Brook, near its junction With the outlet. Montcalm had advanced his lines about half a mile from the fort, and thrown up intrenchments protected by felled trees ; and here, with thirty-six hundred men, he bade defiance to the British army. Tho latter were repulsed with the loss of five hun- dred and forty-eight killed and thirteen hundred and eighty-f ve wounded. The French loss was one hundred and four killed and two hundred and seventy-three wounded. Mont- calm commanded the centre. The old intrenchments are still distinctly visible. Aber- crombie retreated the next day, and returned to his camp at Fort George. This great exploit of Montcalm at the northern extremity of the lake, together with lis exploit against Fort William Henry at its southern extremity, the preceding year, made him emphatically the "hero of the lake." In 1759, the English again formed an expedition under General Amherst against Ticon- deroga and Crown Point; and this year the French, after a show of resistance at Fort Ticonderoga, deserted it, set fire to the works, and went down Uke Champlain. The fort at Crown Point was also abandoned without resistance. General Amherst rebuilt and • raudreufl, after the French governor of Canada; (hrHUm, in Pwnch, means chime or noise like that of a waterail. The Indian name of Ticonderoga has a simiUr origin, meaning " sounding waters." t Doc. Hist, of N. Y., It. 261. There are twenty-flinht reports of the aoouta employed at uifferent Interrals, The reports contain curloua and interesting Information. 1 jy*" Btyfenilwiiiiyiiil Itili'ii i«^-4f> # 68 Btreugthcnod both of these forts. Thns, after four years of bloodshed, the objeeli of Gene- ral Johnson' t expedition o/17o5 were attained. Fort Ticondcroga ie celebrated as the scene of the first successful expedition in the Eevolutionary War. After the afiFairs at Lexington and Concord in March, 1776, an ex- pedition was organized against Fort Ticondoroga, under the command of Colonels Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold. With eighty-three men, the Americans crossed oyer to the fort early in the morning of May 10th, and quietly stole up to the sally-post ; and, following the retreating sentinel, they reached the parade and gave a tremendous shout. The garrison, aroused from their slumber by the noise, rushed with their arms to the parade only to be made prisoners. Colonol Allen, finding his way to the apartment of Captain Deluplace, summoned him to surrender. Startled ond confounded at such a summons, and asking for its authority, the captain was still further amazed at the memorable reply of Allen: "In the name of God and the Continental Congress!" The garrison numbered only forty-eight ; but the military stores were valuable. Fort Ticonderoga was evacuated by the Americans on July 6th, 1777, on the approach of Burgoyne. The lattfer drew up some cannon on the high hill across the outlet of Lake George which completely commanded the fort. It was formerly called Sugarloaf Hill, now Mount Defiance. General St. Clair, seeing the impossibility of further resistance, crossed over to Mount Independence, and r seated towards Fort Edward. This evacuation was a very unfortunate event, but was inevitable under the circumstances. Fort Ticonderoga is well worth a visit. The scenery, as well as the ruins, is a ilch reward to the traveller. The distance between the two lakes is about four miles. The outlet of Loke George, for two and a half miles, "t almost a continued series of rapids, cascades, and waterfalls. The walk from the lower to the upper village, along the outlet, is one of the most delightful excursions the traveller can take. Arriving at the upper ulls, which are very beautiful, if he will pursue his walk across fields and over fences to a narrow shoot in the outlet, about half a mile above the falls, he will no regret the trouble. The diflferenoe in the level of the two lakes is about two hundred feet. \> NOTE XXII.— Page 28. FORT QEORQIi. FoKT Geoeob was built, as a regular fort of masonry, by General Amherst, in 1759. The eminence had, however, been occupied as a stronghold, first by General Johnson in 1755; then by Colonel Munro in 1757, whose intrenched camp was located there; and afterwards by General Abercrombie in 1758. A monuscript authority states, "July 12th, 1758 : * * * Towards evening, the generol came over to line out a fort on the Rocky Hill, where our breastwork was last year." Abercrombie, however, did not construct the masonry works, whose ruins are yet visible. The Honourable Geoeob Bancroft, the historian of the United States, furnished me with the above extract, and kindly corrected an error in my discourse, as published in the Albany Express, in which Fort George is said to have been built by Abercrombie. Mr. Bancroft adds the following interesting item:— "Amherst orrived at Lake George, June 21, 1759. The very next day he and Montresor traced out the ground for a fort. See Mante's Jlistory, page 207. This must have been Fort George. I find this entry in Knox, i. 881 : " 1769, July 4. Our engineers make great progress in erecting the new fort, and have got a fresh supply of bricklayers and masons from the three corps that arrived yesterday."* • I am very much indebted to Mr. lg>wB»'»iiMt*ig.'iinyWiwiiiWM^ Mimi itji i»*f'*ata«*rti>*. 70 > larly for not Bupporting his flanking parties at once instead of falling back and becoming entangled with the troops sent up to reinforce him. But it is easier for a second party to speak than for the first party to act right, when Indians are in ambush. In 1759, Qage bad the rank of brigadier. He was commissioned as major-general in 1761, as lieutenant- general in 1770, and as general in 1782. General Gage was the last Royal governor of Massachusetts. He was commissioned in 1774. He ordered the military moYcments which resulted in the shedding of the first blood in the Revolutionary War. The detachment of eight hundred soldiers sent by him to destroy the military stores at Concord arrived, on their way, at Lexington, on April 19th, 1775, and fired upon a company of provincial militia assembled there, killing eight of the number. Gage commanded the British forces at the battle of Bunker's Hill. His conduct was nn- Batisfactory to the king's councillors, and he was recalled immediately. Some time after his return to England he was made a baronet. Ho died in 1787. NOTE XXIV.— Page 28. THE OLD MItlTAKY BOAD AND ITS MEMORIALS. The old road which General Johnson cut through the forests with his army in 1765 runs the same general course as the plank road, and is yet visible. The plank road fre- quently crosses it. Modern skill has, of course, made improvements in its track, just as the road in use before the plank road probably made a few deviations from the old military road. But the latter road must have been almost identical with the common road used before the plank road. The old road has some interesting memorials. It commenced at Fort Edward and passed near Glen's Falls. About half way from Fort Edward to Lake George is a stream yet called by the name of "Half- Way Brook." This was a halting-place for all teamsters, and also for soldiers on their marc\i. In 1758, after Abercrombie had retreated from Ticonderoga before Montcalm, the French marauding parties were very bold and enter- prising. In the latter part of July they attacked a regiment at this place and killed a number of men. Two weeks later, they fell upon a convoy of wagoners at the same place, and, murdering most of them, seized the stores, which became their plunder. This place was afterwards protected by a small stockade fort, which was put up by General Amherst in 1759, as he was advancing with his army to L&ke George. Mr. Bancroft kindly fur- nished me with the following memorandum :—" In Knox i. 370 is this entry: 'June 21st, 1759. The stockade at the seven-mile post is finished to-day.' " Its site is still pointed out. Going towards the lake, there was formerly another small fort, near the toll-gate, which I explored, last September, with Mr. Brown, the obliging keeper of the tavern near the gate. The fort stood about fifty rods east of the road, on what is now Isaac Smith's farm, nearly opposite to the house on the west side of the road, about fifty rods south of Mr. Brown's tavern. It enclosed about an acre and a half. The last remnants of the pickets were taken down eight or nine years ago, and the whole was ploughed over. The site, however, is still distinctly seen. About half a mile beyond Mr. Brown's and the toll-gate is Williama' monument, which is seen from both roads. The old road turns to the left at the toll-gate and goes up the rising ground to where Colonel Williams' detachment met Dieskau about ten o'clock in the morning, September 8th, 1755. The ambuscade was adroitly arranged, and came near cutting off the whole detachment. Old Hendrick fell in advance of Williams, and probably ■was shot down about a third of a mile from the toll-gate. 71 jk and becoming , second party to In 1759, Qftge 1, as lieutenant- oommiasiuned in of the first blood by liim to destroy ipril lOtli, 1775, it of tlie number, conduct was un- Somo time after lis army in 1755 e planlc road fre- ita track, just as a the old military ammon road used 'ort Edward and corgc is a stream for all teamsters, d retreated from r bold and enter- lace and killed a it tlie same place, ttder. This place General Amherst 3croft kindly fur- itry : 'June 21st, 9 still pointed out. he toll-gale, which I tavern near the aac Smith's farm, •ods south of Mr. .nts of the pickets 1 over. The site, monument, which ;e and goes up the ten o'clock in the 1, and came near Ams, and probably Jfoeh/ Brook is about three-quarters of a mile beyond Williams' monument, jaat beyond the point where the old road unites with the new. Here Colonel WilliamH halted until the division under Lieutenant-Colonel Whiting came up. During this lialt the French and Indians arranged . ' '.r fatal ambuscade. Bloody Pond is a large stagnant pool, to the right of the road, about one mile from the monument, a quarter of a mile from Rocky Brook, and two and a lialf miles from the lake. It is close by the roadside, and is viewed by the traveller witli strange and painful interest. Here the detachment of the morning rallied in their retreat and made a short stand behind the pond, doing considerable execution. In this neighbourhood, also, between the pond and the brook, occurred the skirmish, in the evening of the same day, between a division of Dieskau's retreating troops and the companies from Fort Edward under tho command of McQiunis. The latter received his death-wound in this engagement. A large number hav- ing been killed during tho day at this pond and their bodies thrown into the water, the name of "Bloody Pond" was given, and is retained among the sad memorials of the campaign. Lieutenant- Colonel Cole't detachment of three hundred men, sent from the camp to cover the retreat of Williams' tain, mot them aliout holf a mile north of "Bloody Pond." This retreat was well conducted, under Lieutenant-Colonel Whiting, of New Haven, who commanded the second Connecticut regiment. Tho Baron Diuskau acknow- ledged to General Johnson that the retreat reflected great praise upon the Americans. About a mile and a half north of Bloody Pond, and one mile from Lake George, is Oage'a Hill, so called from the fort on its summit. While passing near this hill, Dieskau's soldiers first descried Johnson's camp through an opening in the woods, and the provinciols were filled with alarm at the sight of their own retreating detachment and the advancing corps of French regulars, with their glistening bayonets. The aile of the battle of Lake George is on the old road, a little in advance of where Fort George now stands. Tho road was the centre of the battle-field. The Americans occupied a strong position. The low grounds on either side, the lake in the rear, the uraincncos on the left, the intrenchmcnt of trees, and a good view in front, gavi them important advantages. Johnson's camp was protected by a rough intrenchmcnt after the battle, at which time, also, its dimensions were contracted. Ten days after the battle, on September 18th, a pro- position was made to move tho camp, probably to the beautiful plain near the new fort, and on wliich the splendid " Fort William Henry Hotel" now stands. It is also probable that Johnson himself, who seems to have been very partial to that locality, was in favour of the removal. The council of officers, however, decided not to remove the camp, but "to keep the present eiicanipmcnts, with the following alterations: — that Colonel Bagby and Colonel Blanchard remove their encampments, and tho flank-breastwork to run along tho flank of Colonel Buggies', and the rocky eminence on the left flank, if found advisable, to be left without tho breastworks; which alterations are to be immediately set about."* The camp of 1757 was located at the same spot. The breastworks were improved, and huts and barrac'is were built outside. A few days before Fort William Henry was cap- tured, the Caned'.ans and Indians, who were posted in the rear of the camp, made an attack on the Intrenchments, and came very near corrying them. The n ider will remem- ber that the massacre of 1757 occurred as the provincials were marching out of the in- trenched camp and were moving on the old road towards Fort Edward. In 1768, Abercrombie still further improved the defences of the hill, and "lined out" the extensive intrenchments which are yet visible. The old road was also put in better order by the army under his command, and also taken care of, the following year, when General Amherst come to the lake. Although much cut up by the ortillery and baggage- wagons, it was nevertheless widened, continually repaired, and reduced to military order. * JobDson'g Mannwiipts. w*-wftih'hiiti*«<*fl>ii*ji>n' 72 Ik The old rofttl pnssed down to the lake, and then turned up the rising ground where Fort William Henry stands. This road was the one used for many years after the town of Bolton was settled. The town of Caldwell was sot off from Bolton in 1810, and the villngu made rapid progress for a short time. Dr. Dwight, who visited this locality a second time In 1811, says, " I little thought that within ten years tliere would bo raised up a beautiful Tillage, » • * erroneously named Fort George, which has been built on the western side of the lake, immediately after turning it* touthem boundary."* At that time the road to Caldwell, Bolton, and the more northern settlements, ran round the southern shore, past Fort William Henry. The road was straightened, some thirty years ago, from a point about a mile from the Lake House, at which place the old road turns down to the right, to Fort George ; whilst the new route went down the ravine and over a small bridge, which has since been enlarged and improved by the bridge and embankments of the plank road. There formerly stood a large building on the south shore of the lokc, northeast of the turn of the old road, near the barracks of old Fort George. It was between the fort and the loko, close to the water, and was called " The Long Jfou»e." This building was erected for a hospital in the Revolutionary War. Colonel Trumbull, in his "Reminiscences," writing from Crown Point in 1776, says, "The sick, who required the attentions of a hoppitol, were twenty-eight hundred; so that when they wore eent off, with tho number of men necessary to row them to the hoipilal, which had been established at the south end of Lake George, a distance of fifty miles, there remained but the shadow of an army."f In 1800, "The Long House" was kept as a tavern by John Varner. At that time there waa a log hut on the site of Mr. Shcrrill's " Lake House." J All along the old military road, musket-balls, firelocks, buttons, flints, &o. are dug up. Tho supply is not yet exhausted. The following lines from a poem by E. W. B. Casniko, Esq., faithfully and beautifully describe some of the evepts and scenes on the old military road : — " He who that field might now o'ergo, Where Death his harvest reaped of woe And paled the warrior's brow, ' >' * Shall find the relics of the fray Occasional along his way. Upturned by spade or plough ; The battered bullet, and the bone Of fallen friend or foe unknown — j. ' Mayhap a rusted weapon shown ;— And look o'er smiling field afar, Where trod the iron heel of war. That dark, sad Pool without a wave Of hundreds slain made easy grave, Still lies as dark, as sad, as deep. While lilies o'er its bosom creep. Unconscious that their beauties grow From the forgotten dead below. . A* « ' The peasant leaves his toil to tell Where the brave Williams fought and fell; And where beside the ancient path. When battle's storm had spent its wrath, Beneath a huge pine's whispering crown, In forest grave they laid him down. • Dwight's Travels, iU. 4U. t Namtive of Pelatlah Blcliardi. t Trumbuira Reminiscences, p. 28. X.. TA ound where Fort rtcr tlio town of ), and the villnge ty a second time id up a beautiful the western side time the road to hern shore, past ;o, from a point a to the right, to ill bridge, which the plank road, northeast of the 'een the fort and ding was erected Reminiscences," attentions of a li the number of the touth end of in army."! In 1 time there waa &o. are dug up. W. B. Canniko, the old military Iniscences, p. 28. -.v.fifv • , : , * Hard by a giant boulder's side »^ "I They show the spot on which ho died ; ' "J^>P . And on its summit, tall and lone, " «H- L 5 Now stands the monumental stone, ' To tell the traveller from afar V # - * :- ' - That ingrato we no longer are."* The following are the distances from Lalce George to some of the principal localities on the old military road, or what is now the plank road. The distances are as occurate as can bo given, perhaps, in general terms : — From Lake George to Fort Qago 1 mile. " " Bloody Pond 2J miles. # " " Rooky Brook 2J '» # *• " Williams' Monument 8J " " " Toll-gate ^. " " Brown's tavern... {■ 4 «< ,; " " Old picketed fort J * " " Half-Way Brook 7} " « " " Glen's Falls , 9J «« " " Fort Edward 14J " On. visiting Fort Edward, last autumn, I wns disappointed in finding that the site of the old fort was becoming cut up into lots for small dwellings. The remains of the fort are still viriblo, and the ground on three sides easily traced out. The ruins of the barracks, where Putnam distinguished himself for courage in putting out the fire, are also to bo seen. Procuring a bateau, we crossed over to the island, which was the place of encamp- ment in the wars. In rowing up and down the Hudson for an hour at the " groat carry- ing-place" of the olden time, we could scarcely conceive that this had once been the scene of so much busy enterprise and warlike preparation. Lyman, Johnson, Putnam, Stark, Schuyler, Burgoyne, were all familiar with the spot. Indeed, the "great carrying-place" was well known from the earliest times of communication with Canada, both for the em- barkation of goods and as an important military post. NOTE XXV.— Page 29. THE OLD FREKCH WAE IN DEFENCE OP PROTESTANTISM. The importance of the contest whose scenes were often in the neighbourhood of Lake George is exhibited in its influence upon the civil and religious destiny of our country. The Old French War involved great issues of religious and of political predominance. This note has reference to its religious character ; and a few passages are offered, in illustra- tion, from Mr. Bancroft's "History of the United States:" " The contest which had now spread into both hemispheres began in America. The English colonies, dragging England into their strife, claimed to advance their frontiers, and to include the great central valley of the continent in their system. The American question, therefore, was, Shall the continued colonization of North America be made under the auspices of English Protestantism and popular liberty, or shall the tottering legitimacy of France, in its connection with Roman Catholic Christianity, win for itself new empire * Extracted from tho Poem dellTered at Willlamstown, In 1866, In commemoration of Colonel WiUiams, by B. W. B, Casniso, Esq. The poem is among tho very beut productions of our literary fostlvais. : MMMUWMrtHMMMSM «ii«t*i.i,*fc»Ai^fii'^'.*' 74 in that licmi.>|ilicro ? The qnesition of the Enr^pcnn continent waf, Shnll a Prntcatnnt rcvdiiitioimi kiiiKiliini, likt- I'liixxia, h« permittcJ to Hmo up itml grow Rtrdn); within itti hiiirt'.' ruii-iiliTOcI ill its iiiiilv, lit iiitcri'xllnn ninnly the proHont of n New England, ;ause of religious d victories,' said ;led with the con- ism. The centre f of Saxony, who far is taken from I it. Tho Kino's of my kingdoms, own and subjects force as by other 1 of the Proleitant id encourage my a are never to be at Britain has, in ir your Miycsty's M by zeal for the joy, humbly offer ny ; and that they jpy turn of affairs 75 tbero ; and, in particular, to support your good ally, the King of PrusHJa, in 8uch a manner ns the miignuiiiniity and unexampled efforts of this groat, I'rince in lUfencr nf the riligion anil nil Itljirtieii of /■Jiirnpe doservo and reciuiro." I'riituHtuntiHni anil Liberty were thus our watchwords in tho French War, whose cam- paigns opened in 1706. ! m^ NOTE XXVI,— Pago 30. SIBTVBBINO OBATES — Till OLD TBEMCU DUBIAL-OROVNP. A large number of tho dead sleep on the old battle-fields ui Lake Qeorgc. War leaves its terrible marks beneath tho soil as well as on it. " Tho old French burial-ground," as it is called, is in the woods, not far from the public burial-ground, and to tho south of it. In the course of time a number of these graves have been disturbed by visitors, partly to settle the ((uestion whether they were really graves or not, partly in tho hope of obtaining some article of curiosity, partly to do sdme- tliing new iu an hour of idleness, partly to excite attention as tho hero uf an exploit, or from o'her motives which human nature furnishes in its vast depository of propelling forces. Thoughtlessness, rather than delibeiato wantonness, has prompted to these unchristian deeds. May nut the dead bo permitted to slumber undisturbed ? Because they were strangers in a strange land, shall their bodies bo exposed by indecent disinterment and become the subjects of vain jesting and idle curiosity ? Surely there is a sacrcdness in the house of the grave that not only forbids the absence of violent intrusion, but solicits thoughts of sympathy and awe, and, at least, the manifestation of outward respect. To dig into graves and disturb tho dead is an offence against tho laws of Christian society. It is liable to punishment in the peaitertiiiry. But its greatest offence is agninst God and tho Bcntiment of religion in tho human heart. Tlie doctrine of tho resurrection consecrates the dust of tho grave: — "This corruptible must put on incorruption, and this niorliil, im- mortality." The grandest and most awful associations of religion bid us tread softly and solemnly among graves. I am persuaded that these acts referred to have been done chiefly from want of considera- tion. Certainly they ought not to be vepeoted; mid the object of this public protestation is simply to caii attention to tho subject, as the only requisite to prevent this thoughtless conduct in future. It ought to be added that the proprietors of tho soil positively forbid any interference ■with the graves. Their feelings have been deeply injured by several of these transactions of late years. May a kindly and seasonable remonstrance have its proper effect ! Let the dead sleep on ! Traveller, thou art soon to be in the gr>vve and numbered with them !* * Id the discourse aa delivored and Anit printed, I monttoned the rumour that the boiy of the lanicnted WilliamB had been removed to Wllliamstivni and buried there with the solemn rlti.4 doti to Um memory. I wax aurprlaed to find, on lately reading the Ileport of the Committee of the Alumni of AVtlliHn>H' CuUnge, that bis skull, the only part of his body removed, had been carried away to Kalelgb. North Carolina. See Note XIV., where this information Is communicated. Since writing that note, and whilst Noiu X.XVI. is actunlly In tho printers hands, I learn that Colonel Williams' nephew died shortly after his return to llnleigb, and that the skull of his lamented uncle is now "probably somewhere in Virginia, but its pro<'iso resting-place Is not oertain." Ought not this relic of the dead to be either restored to the place of its military sepulture, or deli- rered to the autboiities of Williams' College for burial at the pince of the cItII tame of the thoughtful and honoured founder of the iDstttution? This suggestion is made without the slightest iutuution to cost relleo- tious anywhere. * -Sl*6.'^«:^^_kw^^., ^ =L.«^.tiX.»*' :^4^- 76 <* , . NOTE XXVII.— P«go 31. MONUME.NTH AT LAKH OIOBUI. Nptir the conoln^lnn of tho Ilintoricnl niscniirHC, n proposition wan tnnde to orcet two inoniiiiK'ntM: — one comnionioriitive of tho victory at Liiico (icorgo nnil of tlio otViccrs and men wlio fell ill tlio notion ; ami tiio othi-r to tlio raumory of Ilundricic, tho ohl Nochom who woH n Htcailfiixt frioiiil anil ally of tlio colonicn. A muctiiiK was hold in tho Lakk IIouhk, on tho OTcnlng of Soptcnibcr 8th, 1855, of which the fulluwing report oppoarud iu the Albani/ Mornitiy L'iprtii of tho l'2th:— rnopoMEn movumentii at tAKH OEORaB, At a mooting of tho citizens of CaMwoU and visitors, hold at tho Lalce House, on the centonnial anniversary of tho battle of Lake Ooorgo, on motion of tho Uoir. Dr. Campbell, H. Wood, Esi]., of CaldwoU, was appointed Chairman and D, IJ. Ketchum Secretary. The purpose of the mooting was stated by the llov. Cortlandt Van llenssoluor, who offered the following resolutions : — Reinlved, That this meeting doom It expedient to take measures for the erection on the battle-ground of Lake Qcorgo of a monuiiiunt commcmorativu of tho victory and tributory to tho memory of tliotto who fell in it; and also for tho erection of a monument to tho memory of llcndrick, the Mohawk sachem, near to the place where ho is supposed to have fallen. Iteiolved, That a committee of five be appointed to collect subscriptions, to select plans, to secure the ground, and to do nil things necessary for tho erection of tho uionaments ia a Btylo nppropri.ito to tho object in view. The resolutions were adopted, and the following gentlemen appointed by the choir, as tho committee, viz. : — J. N. Campbeli, D.D., Albany. William I'aumeleb, do. Thomas AnciiBALD, Caldwell. : . David Banks, New York. M. W. Pehuine, Glen's Falls. . ■ • Tlie meeting then adjourned. ■ H. Wood, Chairman. Beptember 8th, 1856. . > D. B. Ketciium, Secretory. It is to be hoped that there Is sufficient public spirit, intelligent appreciation, and sub- Btontial gratitude, in the present generation, to secure the erection of these monumcnta. Can persons of wealth do a better service without curtailing their charities than to give a liberal donation for this purpose ? Tho execution of the works will probably depend upon tho larger contributions of a comparatively small number of the wealthy, in connection with the smaller contributions of the masses. The cost of the monuments ought not to be less than one thousand dollars each. On the day of the centennial celebration, a lady gave $5, and a gentleman $100, towards the monuments. Lot every one who thinks well of the scheme do snmelhing for it without delay. Good wishes, when carried out, become GOOD DEEDS ; but good resolutions, unexecuted, end in NOTUiNa. Contributions may be left with Mr. ShciTiU, at the Lake House, or Mr. Gale, at the Fort William Henry Hotel, or may be sent to any member of tho committee, as may be most convenient. [The lamented Judge Pnrmelee, who was on the committee, has deceased within the year.] I appeal, in behalf of the monuments, to several classes, one and all. Citizens of Warren county! Remember the great victory gained in this frontier wilder- ness which is now the abode of a prosperous and indebted people. I ' In erect two (itlicors ami Noclicm who iAKK IIOI'HE, suruii iu tlio ouse, on the )r. Campbell, tetary. , who offered ictlon on the ind tributory iment to the iQsed to have select plans, Qamenta in a the chair, as aan. ■*- Secretory. on, and Bub- monumcnta. lan to give a depend upon n connection ght not to be a lady gave links well of out, become tions may be Henry Hotel, nicnt. [The le year.] sntier wilder- ,i.--'JLMIillH 1 < Mi. r rt -Tl 77 Inhahititntt of the Kmpirt Slate.' These mcmoriaJH of the oldon time— lot them declare yoii tlmtikful poRscMor* of a great Inheritance, Ought not Huch an cnniiio to liavo itii montiimiiitH.' Ftllowmfmbfri of the Union ! ITcIp forward works which commemorate coloniol ochiovo- nentH. Uriituil wo ntnoil, nnd united we Ntand. New Kiii/ldiiileri! Th" lilood of your siren reddened the eorth, and In thooo gravoft aro their boncH. Iu tiie names of Lyman, and WilUamn, and Putnam, and Stark, give your Oo-opcnitlim. Kngliahmen ! The monuments celebrate men and things that bring honour to the reign of flcorgo T[. Men of wfdlih ! Here you may ennoble a portion of your substance in perpetuating his- torical records rich in the treaNures of heroic patrlotlHin. Ladkn! Ye promoters of every good work,— in iutullect the best judges and iu heart readiest to execute,— soy to all orouud you, " These monumoufs shall rise !" Antiqwiiiiinn, lovers of histori/! Publish to posterity on massive granite and marble tho names and the deeds of a past century. Militanj men! The canipalgti of 1766 was yours ; yours its valour of soul, its victory of arms, and its laurels of fume. Patronn of the Fine Art)! T.et sculpture show forth its ideal beauty and its workman- ship of skill to the admiring gaze of thousands of spectators. Vinilors of i/ie Lake! A free-will offering for tho monuments will refresh tho memorfoa of your journey and gladden your return to these scenes of attraction. Christiant ! Providence was on the side of our country ; and may wo not place hero a memorial of its deliverance ? Have Protostontism and liberty no claims for jour com- memoration ? Lki tub monuubntb asosnd! NOTE XXVIII. BLODGET'S "PBOSPKCTIVE view of the DATTLB NEAE tAKE aEOEQE." The map, which is prefixed to most of the copies of this pamphlet, is a very valuable historical document, illustrating the American camp, the position of tho different regi- ments in it, nnd the general circumstances of the attack and defonce in the two engage- ments of the 8th of September, 1765. This map, as I am informed by Dr. O'Caliaohak, of Albany, was originally published by Samuel Blodget, in Boston, 1755. It was republished in England on February 2d, 1756, as appears on the map, which was certainly rapid work for those times. The present map was engraved from a London copy for tho Documentary History of New York, edited by Dr. O'Callaghan. At his kind suggestion, I applied for the use of the plates, and obtained permission from the publishers to have as many impressions as the pamphlet might call for. Dr. O'Cailaohan, replying in a very obliging manner to my second application to him for information, states that a notice of Blodget may be found in Massachusetts Hist. Coll., iv. p. 163, second series, which has been reprinted by Allen in his Biographical Dictionary. He adds : — " It seems that Samuel Blodget was born at Wobmn, Massa- chusetts, in 1723, and was engaged in the expedition against Louisburg in 1745. Hence, possibly, he was afterwards tempted to join the expedition of 1755. He died in 1807, at Haverhill, Massachusetts." - 78 iiM Dr. O'Callaghan farther states that a copy of the first edition of Blodget's map is in the Library of the American Antiquarian Society of Worcester, Massachusetts. A copy of Blodget's map, on a reduced soale, is to be found in Mr. Bancroft's History of the United States, vol. iv. p. 210. With the aid of the references, nineteen in number, on this reduced map, I have filled up, as far as was in my power, the thirty-nine references on the larger map. BEFERENOES TO THE MAP. Firat Engagement. 1. The road. 2. The French and Indians. 3. Hendrick on horseback. 4. Our men. 6. Our Indians far within the ambuscade. Second Engagement. ' 6. Canadians and French Indians. 7. Dieskau's regulars making the attack on the centre. 8. The road. 9. Our men in the action posted in front. 10, The trees felled for the breastworks. 11. Three of the large cannon. 12. One of the cannon posted "advantageously" on the eminence. 13, 14, 16, 16. Illustrating the attack on the right; particulars not known. 17. The guards on the flanks and rear. 18. Woods and swawp. 19. Low ground near the lake. 20. Cannon defending flanks and rear. 21. Baggage- wagons. 22, 23, 24. Military stores and ammunition. 26. Mortars. 26. Road to the lake. 27. Bateaux on Lake Ge(^rge. 28. Four Storehouses. 29. Storehouse. 80. Iroquois Indians. 31. QcneralJohnson's tent. 32. Major-Goneral Lyman's regiment. 83. Colonel Harris' regiment. 34. Colonel Cockcroft's regiment. 35. Colonel Williams', now Colonel Pomroy's, regiment. 36. Colonel Rugglos' regiment. 37. Colonel Titcomb's regiment. 88. Colonel Guttridge's regiment. 39. Officers. The heading of the map is not quite accurate in the number of troops stated to bo engaged on both sides, and is quite inaccurate in the number stated to be killed or the side of the French. I learn from Samuel F. Haven, Esq., the librarian of the American Antiquarian So- ciety, Worcester, Mass., that the library of that institution contains another map of Lake George, &c., published by Timothy Clement, 1756. Mr. Haven has kindly copied for me the dedication, which is as follows : — " To His Excellency William Shirley, Esq., Capt. General and Gov' in Chief in and over his Majesty's Province of y« Massachusetts Bay in New England, Major General and Com- mander in chief of all his Majesty's Land forces in North America, And to y* Legislators of the several Provinces concerned in y' Expedition to^Crown Point : — " This Plan of Hudson Riv from Albany to Fort Edward, (and the Road from thence to Lake George as surveyed, ) Lake George, the Narrows, Crown Point, part of Lake Champlain, with its South Bay, and Wood Creek, according to y« best accounts from y« French Gen>» Plan & other observations, (by scale No. 1,) and an Exact Plan of Fort Edward, and William Henry, (by scale No. 2,) and y« West end of Lake George, and of y* Land defended on y« 8th of Sept. last, & of our Army's intrenohment afterward, (by scale 3,) and sundry par- ticulars respecting y« late Engagement, with y= distance and bearing of Crown point & Wood Creek from No. 4, by your most devoted Humble Serv«. " Tim* CisMENT, Surv', "Haver", Feb. 10, 1756. "Engraved i> Printed by Thomas Johnston, Boston, New England, April, 1756." Mr. Haven adds :— " The size of the Plan is 27 by 17^ inches within the border-lines. It is in a frame." «»* I Blodget'a map is in icbusetts. . Bancroft's History leteen in number, on y-nine refcreaces on back. 4. Our men. ; the attaclc on the 10, The trees felled the cannon posted attack on the right ; ods and swaiiip. 19. 1. Baggage- wagons. ,d to the lake. 27. use. 80. Iroquois ;iment. 83. Colonel illiams', now Colonel ntcomb's regiment. troops stated to be 1 to be killed or the 3an Antiquarian So- .nother map of Lake lly copied for me the in Chief in and over jr General and Com- nd to y* Legislators Boad from thence to t of Lake Champlain, from y« French Geni» Edward, and William Land defended on y<> 3,) and sundry par- ig of Crown point & SMENT, Surr', er', Feb. 10, 1756. April, 1756." liu the border-lines. 0- v k s /ff,i ///(/'//. >/tnrnfnf .VM/v/r^/y rHfrX fo. »///ttiu// \'.}' Gl Prol^4Tl^^Tlef^^V//^' ^ Si T T Tj IJ ^o/y/f/ /tfrtr lake Ororoe, .v/ //tr r) ?? Psfi' .V* />je j*^ jfeViy.* oKMt: st .^' t ^ "*' ''* ± .*i '" *- 4 -■"' Va Ti t V • ^ ^ N ■■'/' 4,' ^T •^' •' JU >•■ '■' •'>•'" > > -^^^ BtMh *::^/9..i ..k^^:kii«k., (*opi^fi frottf *» n Ettptytnthif irt f^f .^* )' Xffth' LtSrttrji/. .,^7///f.i', fry '■frr<-r-/fff:^ /^ //*•/ t^ '■ '" <;• //tfA/ f . /j^/'rUff -"'r/ Sd^ ? i' fi y-r/tnfii/ .'/r/'rtu'yy 44f '•' " //JO' 'i ^ii^^mm AnuHrrtKHf ,^fh. t7/M/ '/ 1.7! ■'//•f"y* TABLE OF CONTENTS. rum HISTORICAL DISCOURSE 5 APPENDIX. The Centennial Celebration 33 Preliminary Measures for the Celebration 33 Account of the Celebration from the "Albany Express" 33 Notice of the Regatta on the Lake 35 NOTES TO THE DISCOURSE. Note I. The Iroquois 36 II. Samuel do Champlain 37 III. Isaac Jogues, the Jesuit Missionary 39 IV. Routes to Canada 40 V. Rival Claims of England and France 41 VI. The Albany Convention of 1754 42 VII. British Plan of the Campaign of 1755 43 VIII. The Name of Lake George 44 IX. The Military Tactics of the two Commanders 46 X. Baron de Dieskau 49 XL Le Gardeur de St. Pierre 50 XXL Sir William Johnson 51 XIII. Phineas Lyman 53 XIV. Ephraim Williams 54 XV. Hendrick, the Mohawk Sachem 56 79 1 m F-y.' NoTii XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. XXI. XXII. XXIII. XXIV. XXV. XXVI. XXVII. XXVIII. turn Iflraol Putnam <* 57 The Officers and their Graves 58 ProTidonce in our Favour at Lake Qeorge, 1755 59 The Treaty of Paris, 1763 61 Fort William Henry 61 Fort Ticonderoga C7 Fort George 68 Fort Gage 69 The Old Military Road and its Memorials 70 A Contest between Protestantism and Romanism 73 On Disturbing Graves 75 The Proposed Monuments at Lake George 76 Blodget's Map of the Battle of Lake George 77 THE END. I 1 TMM , 57 , 58 , 59 , 61 , 61 . 07 . 68 , 69 , 70 . 73 . 75 . 76 . 77 SffqA^J Till- avaiU ol' tlie sale of tliis IliHtorical Discourse will bo aiipropriated towards the erection of the projectotl MoNUMKNTfi AT LaKE (iKOR(]E AND VICINITY. il *■ The roador is referred to Note XXVII, in the Appendix. LBApTOS ;.- s^'.X»''*-*''»*»*"- - auree will projected ippeiidix. f / <^-^' . ^-VA * r 4m»* >MbJ p yy' Ksr