Connecticut river. The road ran in an easterly direction, inclining to the south; it was directed to a place then known as No. 4, now called Charlstown.* A direct communication with the lake would thus be opened with Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Two hundred rangers were set to work on the road.

Looking upon Crown Point as the best possible position on lake Champlain for a fort, Amherst commenced its restoration. Four hundred men were set to work on the ground, and three hundred were engaged in preparing timber in the woods. The work was much impeded by rain. He also directed an exploration of Otter creek, which discharges into the east of lake Champlain. Three thousand men were set at work on the fort. Amherst, from the want of rigged vessels, hesitated to ascend the lake with sixty-four bateaux and whale-boats. De Bourlamaque was strongly intrenched at île aux Noix, and four vessels were constantly cruising about, one of which, "la Vigilette," manned by sailors, had ten guns. Amherst felt the necessity of constructing vessels to cope with this force. At one time he entertained the design of burning the French vessels; he even obtained the names of the best swimmers in the force. Some boats were despatched to carry out the enterprise, but they found the French on their guard against surprise.

The events, which had taken place on lake Champlain, had entirely changed the conditions under which the fort at the head of lake George had been commenced. The abandonment of Ticonderoga and Crown Point by the French was regarded as having permanently advanced the British frontier; it was on this theory that a new line of road had been opened to New England. During the summer one portion of the fort having been completed, in itself forming a certain defence, the work was stopped, and the men ordered to Crown Point, to assist in pushing on the fortifications at that place.

Amherst wrote to Wolfe from Crown Point in August. The bearer of his communication was captain Quinton Kennedy, * So spelt in Sauthier's map of 1779.

1759]

THE ABENAKIS.

337 of the 17th, who at the same time received special instructions to enter into friendly relations with the Abenaki Indians at Saint Francis. Amherst wrote in the paper, with which Kennedy was charged, that he was on his way to conquer Canada, and promised that if the Abenakis remained neutral, he would give them his protection. The answer to this mission was to make the bearer a prisoner, and to carry him. and those who accompanied him to Quebec. They consisted of captain Kennedy, lieutenant Hamilton, captain Jacobs, and four Indians. It was from Montcalm, on the 9th of September, that Amherst heard that his messenger had been taken, Montcalm adding that he would send them back with the exchanged prisoners, but by the laws of war he would be justified in not surrendering them. Amherst simply replied that he expected them to be returned. There had always been much bitterness of feeling against the Abenakis. It was they who had been the most active in the attacks when no mercy was shewn. The Indians of the sault and the mountain, to some extent, recognized the claim of kindred with the tribes on the Mohawk, and they could not always be relied upon, in the attacks of isolated spots of settlement. The Abenakis had never hesitated in wreaking the vengeance they had been sent to execute. They had ever been the most remorseless allies of the French; their past history was written in blood; their names appear in prominence in the expeditions, the whole intent of which was to destroy, or to carry away as prisoners those they surprised, in order to make settlement impossible, from the dread of being killed or forced into servitude. They were nominally christians, ministered to by jesuit priests, many of whom had been present on the commission of their enormities.

The treatment of Amherst's messenger led him to form the determination to inflict summary chastisement on the settlement of Saint Francis. The duty was entrusted to Rogers, with a party of two hundred and twenty picked men, including several volunteers from the regulars.

In order to prevent the news being carried by spies during

the organization of the expedition, Rogers was described in orders as proceeding in a totally different direction.

Amherst's orders were emphatic. "Take your revenge; but don't forget that tho' those villains have dastardly and promiscuously murdered the women and children of all ages, it is my orders that no women or children are killed or hurt."

Rogers started on the evening of the 13th of September, in whale boats. He had to advance up the lake with great caution, for de Bourlamaque's armed schooners shewed great activity, and were constantly cruising to intercept any boats or canoes. On the 5th of March, captain Williams, of the Royal regiment, with several men of the detachment, were injured by an explosion of gunpowder. With others who had fallen sick, the whole, to the number of forty, were sent back to Crown Point. Williams returned with reluctance.

On the 10th day Rogers reached Missisquoi bay, between ninety and one hundred miles north of Crown Point; he there concealed his boats. Rogers left behind him two Indians, on whom he could rely, to watch the craft, and to remain on the spot until he came back: or, in case the boats were discovered by the enemy, to follow on his track and give him information of the fact.

Rogers had not proceeded far towards the Saint Francis on the route he had selected when he was joined by the Indians, who informed him that his boats had been burned. The news much affected him. His hope of retreat was cut off and there was the loss of the provisions, taken with the boats, likewise a misadventure. He felt, moreover, the certitude of his being pursued. Even if, in an encounter, Rogers got the better, the enemy could be reinforced, while his own force would be cut off from all assistance. He resolved, accordingly, to strike. directly for the Saint Francis and to anticipate his pursuers. It was a march of eighty or ninety miles, through a rough, unbroken country. He sent off lieutenant McMullen, to make his way, as best he could, to Crown Point, to report to Amherst

1759]

ROGERS' ATTACK.

339

the facts as they were, and to ask that provisions should be sent to the mouth of the Amonoosuc, a tributary of the Connecticut, some ninety miles above No. 4, the modern Charletown, the last settlement on the river. McMullen and his party reached Crown Point on the 3rd of October, and on the following day a party under lieutenant Stephen was despatched with the supplies required. It was not difficult to forward the provisions to this spot, for Amherst had caused a road to be cut, both from Ticonderoga and Crown Point, to No. 4. The two roads joined within twenty miles of Crown Point, whence it was continued to No. 4, a distance of between thirty and thirty-five miles. For nine days Rogers passed through marshy ground, the water most of the way being a foot deep. At night they built up their camps upon thick layers of hemlock boughs: they started before daylight and continued on their way long after dark. The tenth day they reached the river Saint Francis, about fifteen miles above the Indian town. The current was swift, the water five feet deep, fordable with caution and care. To experienced woodsmen, in one sense, it was an easy problem; the men linked arms, and, sustained by a staff in the hand, the other side was reached. After cautiously proceeding some distance, Rogers climbed a tree and discovered that he was within three miles of the doomed village. Accompanied by two of his officers, Turner and Avery, he proceeded to reconnoitre the place he was presently to surprise. He approached sufficiently near to see that the inhabitants were engaged in an orgie, dancing and yelling. It was on the 5th of October, the twenty-second day of his leaving Crown Point, that Rogers' band advanced upon the town. There were now but one hundred and forty-two men, officers included. He disposed his force to prevent escape on the right, left and centre. All were asleep. It was just the break of dawn; a rush was made upon the wigwams. Those who appeared were shot down, those asleep in their beds were killed; upwards of two hundred were slaughtered; some few endeavoured to escape, and managed to start in their canoes,

but they were pursued by forty men of the party, and all were shot or drowned. "About seven the affair was over." "'*

Twenty women and prisoners were taken; fifteen, however, of them were immediately released. Rogers brought away two Indian boys and three girls. He set fire to all the houses except three, in which there was corn, which Rogers took for his own use. The church was plundered and burned. Rogers formed the opinion, that several who were in hiding in the village were burned, including the priest.†

Rogers' loss was one Stockbridge Indian killed, captain Ogden badly, and six men slightly, wounded. Five English captives were released by him. Six hundred scalps brought from New England were hanging as trophies from every door post, as a memento of the past and an encouragement to future triumphs in la petite guerre. Rogers says of the Abenakis, that to his own knowledge, within six years they had killed and carried into captivity from New England four hundred persons. In recording his success, Rogers adds that had not the boats been discovered, he would have got back without the loss of a man. The corn which was found was distributed among the men of the detachment for their subsistence; the party had become short of food, and it was all the supplies that they could obtain. From his prisoners Rogers heard that four hundred French were about four miles down the river below him, and that a party of two hundred French and fifteen Indians had gone up the river Wigwam Martina. A council of war was called, and it was determined to proceed homewards by No. 4 on the Connecticut. The detachment kept together for eight days, until near Ampara Magog lake, when it was divided into small companies, with guides given to each, to assemble at the mouth of the Amonoosuc. It was thought that by these means they could better sustain themselves by hunting. Ensign Avery followed on the path of

It is Rogers' expression, and it is repeated by Amherst.

+ Rogers does not so state in his published volume: it is the report of Amherst to Pitt, evidently on the statement of Rogers. It is plain more letters were written than Rogers subsequently published.

So written by Rogers; evidently lake Memphremagog.