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THE BATTLE AND ROUT.

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they returned the fire, at trees and rocks. In vain their gallant officers exhorted them to follow, and clear the adjacent ravines and hills of the lurking enemy. The bewildered men would not obey. They fired wildly, and even shot their own comrades in mistake.

The Virginia Rangers alone retained their presence of mind. Familiar with Indian warfare, each selected a tree and fought the savage in his own style. Washington seemed everywhere present. The other aids had been early disabled, and he alone was left to transmit the orders of his general to the different parts of the field. Four balls passed through his coat, and two horses were shot under him. The Indians singled him out specially for death, but in vain. "Some mighty Manitou protects him," said a disappointed chief, who, with his braves, repeatedly covered him with his musket, and it was even so.

Braddock had five horses wounded under him, but was still too proud to retreat before the savages. At last a musket-ball passed through his lungs. As he was placed on a cart, sinking from loss of blood, he faintly asked Washington, "What is to be done?" "We must retreat," was the answer; "the regulars will not fight, and the rangers are nearly all killed." The order was given. Frightened, and deaf alike to commands and threats, the regulars broke from their ranks and disgracefully fled, leaving their stores and artillery, and even the private papers of their general, in the hands of the enemy.. Never was rout more disastrous. On the side of the English, 26 officers fell and 37 were wounded; the loss among the privates amounted to 714. The enemy had only three officers and 30 men killed, and an equal number wounded.

240. On Washington, whose advice, had it been followed, would have saved the army from surprise, now devolved the melancholy duty of conducting the retreat, or rather cover

lowed? How did the British regulars behave? How did the Virginia Rangers conduct themselves? What is said of Washington? What befell Braddock? What passed between him and Washington, after he was wounded? Describe the retreat. What was the loss on both sides? 240. Who covered the flight of the surviving British? Where

ing the flight, of the survivors. They reached Will's Creek in complete disorder, and filled the garrison with consternation. Dunbar, who was in command of the camp, destroyed the remaining stores and artillery, worth not less than £100,000, to facilitate the evacuation of the place. Braddock died the fourth day after his defeat. The destruction of an army from which so much had been expected excited universal horror throughout America. Attempts to raise new forces for the defence of the border met, for a time, with little success. The French and Indians ravaged the Virginia frontier, and escaped beyond the mountains before the colony had recovered from its alarm.

241. The expedition against Niagara under Gov. Shir'-ley, of Massachusetts, accomplished nothing. Braddock was to have aided in this enterprise, and the news of his defeat, added to a series of obstacles, disheartened the army. They advanced no further than Oswego, at the southeastern extremity of Lake Ontario. After rebuilding the fort at this place and garrisoning it with 700 men, Shirley returned to Massachusetts (Oct. 24, 1755).

242. The third expedition, directed against the French fort at Crown Point, had been intrusted to William Johnson. With 3,400 men, mostly New England militia, Johnson advanced to the southern shore of the beautiful sheet called by the Indians Hor'-i-con, by the French St. Sacrement [sang sac-re-mong'], and named by him, after his king, Lake George. Here he waited for stores and artillery, apparently in no hurry to prosecute the enterprise. Meanwhile the brave Dieskau [de-es-co'] was descending Lake Champlain, with about 1,400 Canadians and Indians, for the purpose of striking an unexpected blow. He intended to surprise Fort Edward, which had been recently erected, but, misled by his guides, found himself on the way to Johnson's encampment. A body of English, sent against the invaders, were repulsed

did the remnant of the army assemble? Who commanded there? What did he do? What became of Braddock? What feeling was excited in the colonies by the news of Braddock's defeat? Where did the enemy commit depredations? 241. Give an account of the second expedition. Where is Oswego? 242. Against what post was the third expedition directed? To whom was it intrusted? How many men were raised?

(Sept. 8, 1755); and Dieskau, pursuing them vigorously to their camp, would no doubt have defeated Johnson's whole army had he not been deserted by his Indian allies. As it was, he was driven back, himself mortally wounded. A large part of his force was cut off, and Johnson, who had retired from the field early in the engagement, received the credit of a victory wholly due to the colonial troops and their own gallant officers. Instead of following up his success, Johnson (afterwards made a baronet for

169

Tergennes

Otter Creek

Mt.

Independence

Mt.

Defiance

Wood Creek

HINGTON

Sandy Hill

Moreau FtEdward

Ft. Miller

LAKE GEORGE AND THE VICINITY.

his victory) allowed the French to intrench themselves strongly at Ti-con-de-ro'-ga, and employed himself in erecting Fort William Henry. On the approach of winter, he garrisoned this post with 600 men, and disbanded the rest of his army.

243. The fourth expedition projected by Braddock had in view the extension of the British possessions on the northeast, and was undertaken by the people of Massachusetts. In May, 1755, a strong force sailed from Boston against the French forts near the Bay of Fundy. These were speedily taken, and their reduction was followed by the subjugation

Where did Johnson encamp? [See Map.-In what state is Lake George? What fort is at its southern extremity? What river runs south of it? What creek at its northern extremity? What larger lake just east of it?] For what did Johnson wait? Give an account of Dieskau's movements. What took place, Sept. 8, 1755? What prevented Dieskau from obtaining the victory? What was his fate, and that of his army? Who received credit for the vietory? To whom was it really due? How was Johnson rewarded? What advantage did he allow the French? [See Map.-Where is Ticonde roga? What mountain near it?] In what did he employ himself? On the approach of winter, what did he do? 243. What was the object of the fourth expedition projected

of the whole region between Maine and Nova Scotia, now known as New Brunswick. Nova Scotia had been in possession of the British for some years. It was called A-ca'di-a, and was inhabited chiefly by a simple and happy race descended from the original French settlers, few English colonists having found their way to this northern region. Left to themselves, the Acadians had prospered greatly, and were now in possession of fine farms and abundant flocks. Coveting these, the British authorities, made secure by the conquest of New Brunswick, proceeded to deprive the inhabitants of the fruits of their frugality and industry. The Acadians were cruelly ordered to leave the province. Seyen thousand of them were driven on board of ships, and taken to the southern colonies. Wherever they went they were maltreated and oppressed. "I know not", says Bancroft, "if the annals of the human race keep the record of sorrows so wantonly inflicted, so bitter and perennial, as fell upon the French inhabitants of Acadia."

244. In May, 1756, war was formally declared, after it had been raging in the new world several years. Montcalm [montcahm'], a distinguished French general, was sent to Canada, and commenced a series of movements which resulted in the capture of Fort Oswego, with its garrison of 1,600 men, 120 cannon, three chests of money, and abundant stores. The churches of Three Rivers, Montreal, and Quebec were

MONTCALM.

by Braddock? By whom was it undertaken? In May, 1755, what was done? What posts did they take? What region did they subjugate? In whose possession and Nova Scotia been? What was it called? By whom was it inhabited? What was their condition? What unjust treatment did they receive at the hands of the British authorities? How many were driven away ? Where were they taken? How were they treat ed there? What does Bancroft say of the Acadians? 244. When was war formally declared? Whom did the French government send to Canada? What place did he capture? With Oswego, what fell into Montcalm's hands? Where were the colors of

1756]

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR.

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adorned with its colors, Lord Loudoun [low'-dun], the newly appointed governor-general of the English colonies, had arrived shortly before, but he attempted nothing for the relief of Oswego. The season having been wasted, it soon became necessary to provide winter-quarters for his troops; and the colonists, to their chagrin, found themselves obliged to support thousands of British soldiers who had not as yet struck a blow in their behalf.

CHAPTER XXXII.

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR (CONTINUED).—CAMPAIGNS OF 1757-1758.

245. DURING the winter of 1756-57, Fort William Henry was occupied by a band of hardy American rangers, who defied cold and storms. Among them was John Stark, afterwards a successful general in the Revolution. With the aid of skates and snow-shoes, several expeditions were undertaken against the enemy. An army of 1,500 French and Indians from Canada, with dogs to draw their sleighs, and bear-skins for their only protection at night, marched 180 miles for the purpose of surprising the fort, but found the vigilant garrison on their guard, and returned as they

came.

246. In January, 1757, the northern governors met at Boston, and determined to raise 4,000 men. Meanwhile Loudoun complained to the ministry at home that the colo nies would not tax themselves, and that he could not coerce them. This was untrue. The colonies were willing to be taxed, but wanted, as was natural, to spend the money themselves. They were tired of the imbecility of British officers.

the captured fort taken? What British general had arrived shortly before? What is Baid of his movements? What did the colonists find themselves obliged to do?

245. How did the garrison of Fort William Henry employ itself in the winter of 1756-57 ? What attempt was made by the French? How did it succeed? 246. What took place in January, 1757? What complaint was made by Loudoun ? What was the