USA > New York > Warren County > Queensbury > A history of the town of Queensbury, in the state of New York : with biographical sketches of many of its distinguished men, and some account of the aborigines of northern New York > Part 33
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53
The evacuation and demolition of the fort was completed on the fifteenth of August, and the following day, Montcalm re- embarked with his forces for Carillon.
Fort Edward was now the frontier post on the northern border. The French held undisputed possession of the lakes and port- ages ; and their savage allies swept the forest trails and border hamlets, resistless and merciless; capturing prisoners at the very gate of the palisades and block-houses; carrying dismay to the scattering settlements along the New England boundary,3
1 " These officers having learned that the greater portion had gone to lie in am- bush on the Lidius road, where the English soldiers must necessarily pass, advised Colonel Munroe not to set out before the break of day, so as to be better able to control the Indians ; but they were no longer masters of them on the morrow." -- Documents relating to the Colonial Hist. of N. Y., vol. x, p, 629.
2 Ibid.
3 The capture of the posts at Lake George, and the strength of Montcalm's army, threw the northern provinces into consternation, and the loss of Fort Edward was expected to follow ; and that Montcalm would penetrate to Albany, if not to other points in the interior. On the first landing of the French army at Fort William Henry, General Webb called on the governments of New York and Massachusetts, for reinforcements of militia, and those of New York were soon in motion. Ruggles's and Chandler's regiments, in the county of Worcester, and Williams's and Worth- ington's in the county of Hampshire in Massachusetts, commenced their march for Fort Edward ; but previous to their arrival, Montcalm had returned down Lake George, to his strong post at Ticonderoga. In the mean time Gov. Pownell of
313
CRUELTY AND CARNAGE.
and making the military highway through the town of Queens- bury a continuous scene of carnage, in which the fearful stories of Indian cruelty, the legends of the Blind rock, and nume- rous tales of hair breadth escapes, mingle in a confused horror, a night-mare of history, whose facts are not wholly susceptible of proof, whose traditions can not be denied as improbable.
Massachusetts ordered all the cavalry and a fourth part of the remaining militia of the province, excepting from York, Dukes county and Nantucket to march to Springfield on Connecticut river, under Sir William Pepperell as lieut. general of the province. Orders were also given for establishing a magazine at that place, and should the enemy advance upon the frontiers in force, Pepperell was to order " the wheels to be struck from all wagons west of Connecticut river, to drive off the horses, and to bring off all provisions which could be moved, and to destroy the remainder."-Hoyt's Antiquarian Researches, p. 293.
VIEW OF ENGLISH CHURCH AND FORT FREDERICK, STATE STREET, ALBANY, IN 1745.
40
314
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
CHAPTER IV.
WEBB SUPERSEDED-A NEW CAMPAIGN PROJECTED-ACTIVITY OF THE ENEMY-ENGAGEMENT AT ROGERS'S ROCK-PREPARATIONS FOR THE NEW CAMPAIGN-ABERCROMBIE'S DEFEAT-ENGAGEMENTS AND MASSACRES AT HALF-WAY BROOK-AT FORT ANNE-CAPTURE OF MAJOR PUTNAM-AFFAIR AT COLD BROOK-ABERCROMBIE BREAKS CAMP AT LAKE GEORGE-END OF CAMPAIGN.
OON after the capitulation and surrender of Fort William Henry, the infamous and contemptible Webb was relieved and superseded by Lord Lou- doun in the command of the British forces in North America. By his presence, a new spirit and energy was tem- porarily infused into the management of the colonial military affairs. One of the earliest steps taken, was the reorganization of the already famous corps of rangers under the command of the noted partisan Robert Rogers.(a) It was augmented to the
(a) MAJOR ROBERT ROGERS, a famous partisan of the French war, b. Dun- barton, N. H., ab. 1730 ; d. Eng. ab. 1780. The son of an early Irish settler of D. He com. during the French war (1755-63) Rogers's Rangers,- a corps renowned for their exploits. March 13, 1758, with 170 men, he fought 100 French, and 600 Indians: after losing 100, and killing 150, he retreated. In 1759 he was sent by Amherst from Crown Point to destroy the Indian village of St. Francis ; which service he performed : 200 Indians were killed. In 1760, he was ordered by Am- herst to take possession of Detroit and other Western posts ceded by the French, which he accomplished. He next visited England, where he suffered from want, until he borrowed the means to print his journal, and present it to the king, who in 1765, app. him gov. of Michilimacinac. Accused of plotting to plunder the fort, and join the French, he was sent in irons to Montreal, and tried by a court martial. In 1769 he went to Eng., was presented to the king, but soon afterward was imprisoned for debt. He afterward, according to his account to Dr. Wheelock at Dartmouth, " fought 2 battles in Algiers under the dey." At the opening of the Revol., his course was such, that he was closely watched ; and in 1775, congress, whose prisoner he then was, released him on parole. Suspected by Washington of being a spy, he was secured in June, 1776, but, on being released by congress soon after, openly joined the royal side, and, notwithstanding his parole of honor, accepted the commission of colonel, and raised the Queen's Rangers, a corps cele- brated throughout the contest. Oct. 21, 1776, he narrowly escaped being taken. prisoner at Mamaroneck by a party sent out by Lord Stirling, and soon after went to Eng. He pub. a concise account of N. A., Lond., 1765 ; Journals of the French War, 1765, repub. at Concord, 12mo, 1831, and entitled Reminiscences of the French War, with the Life of Stark ; and in 1766 the tragedy of Ponteach. His Journal of the Siege of Detroit, &c., edited by F. B. Hough (Munsell's Hist. Series), 1860 .- Drake's Dictionary of American Biography.
315
APPEAL TO THE COLONIES.
proportions of a battalion by additions and volunteers from the regular service, who were instructed in a new code of tactics, expressly prepared by their leader for this new service. The main body of the army having been removed to Albany, this corps for a time constituted the only protection on the frontier, against the frequent incursions of predatory and marauding bands of savages, and their equally barbarous allies. In its fre- quent scouts and forays, the entrepot at the Half-way brook, was oftener than any other place the scene of its encampment or bivouac.
The total failure of the last campaign in America-the re- peated and overwhelming disasters to the British arms, was the occasion not only of dissatisfaction in the colonies, but of sharp criticism and acrid debate in the national councils. Lord Loudoun was recalled, and, as a timely concession to the colonial troops, Pitt, the prime minister, " obtained the king's order, that every provincial officer of no higher rank than colo- nel should have equal command with the British, according to the date of their respective commissions."1
.
" The same express that bore the tidings of Lord Loudoun's recall conveyed a circular letter from Mr. Pitt to the colonial go- vernors, declaring the determination of the British cabinet to repair, at any cost, the losses and disasters of the last campaign. To encourage the vigorous cooperation of the colonists, they were informed that his majesty would recommend parliament to grant the several provinces such compensation for the ex- penses which they might incur as their efforts should appear to justly merit, and that arms, ammunition, tents, provisions and boats would be furnished.by the crown." 2
The appeal to the colonies for troops was promptly and gene- rously responded to with an effective force of over twenty thou- sand men, many of whom were trained in the rough school of border warfare, familiar with the arts and subtleties of savage strife, accustomed to the many exigencies of forest. life, and taught from childhood in the mysteries and resources of wood- craft.
As in previous years, the objective points of the campaign were Louisburg, Fort du Quesne, and the valley of the Ohio ;3
1 Bancroft's Hist. U. S., vol. IV, p. 291.
2 Warburton's Conquest of Canada, vol. II, p. 84.
3 Oyo, or the beautiful river .- Kip's Jesuit Missions. Called by the French La belle riviere, meaning the same.
316
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
and the French posts on Lake Champlain, which, in the figura- tive dialect of the Iroquois, was aptly designated as the door or gate of the country. The charge of the last named expedition, as being of chief importance, was assumed by the commander in chief in person, General Sir James Abercrombie, a veteran from the battle fields of Europe ; a favorite of Lord Bute a lead- ing member of the ministry.
Associated with him, though occupying a subordinate posi- tion, was the young, spirited, and popular Lord Howe, whom all contemporaneous accounts concur in styling the flower of the English army, the knight " without fear, and without re- proach."
While these preparations were in progress, the enemy at Carillon were alert and active, continually sending out scouting and foraging parties, which often pushed their daring and venturesome attacks to the very gates of the fortifications at Fort Edward. In the month of August, 1758, a party of fifty ran- gers were attacked between the last named post, and the Half- way brook, by a detachment of Canadians and Indians under the command of M. de Langy a French colonial officer. Twenty- three of the English were killed, and five taken prisoners. The scalps and prisoners were conveyed to the French camp at Carillon.
During the latter part of the month of February following, a convoy of thirty sleighs loaded with provisions, was attacked by a party of Indians while on its way from Fort Edward to the camp at the head of the lake. The eleighs were plundered and dispersed and four of the teamsters were scalped.
On the twenty-eighth of the same month, Capt. Putnam (a) in command of a company of Connecticut provincials and a de- tachment of rangers were despatched on a reconnoisance to
(a) ISRAEL PUTNAM was born in Salem, Massachusetts, January 7th, 1718. In 1739, he removed to Pomfret, Conn. In 1755, he was appointed lieutenant of the 6th Company of the 3d Connecticut regiment, and was afterwards promoted to be captain. He rendered much service to the army in the neighborhood of Crown Point, as may be seen by the reports of his scouting parties in New York Doc. Hist., IV. In 1756, while near Ticonderoga, he was repeatedly in the most im- minent danger. He escaped in an adventure one night with twelve bullet holes in his blanket. In 1757, the legislature of Connecticut conferred the commission of major on Putnam, who served that year under Gen. Webb, at Fort Edward, and was attached to the army under Abercrombie, in 1758. In August of that year he was sent out with several hundred men to watch the motions of the enemy. " Being ambuscaded by a party of equal numbers, a general but irregular action
317
ISRAEL PUTNAM.
Ticonderoga. On his return he reported that six hundred Indians were encamped not far from the French intrenchments.
On the tenth of March, by the order of Colonel Haviland,(a) then in command at Fort Edward, Capt. Rogers, accompanied by thirteen officers part of whom were volunteers from the
took place. He had discharged his fusee several times, but at length it missed fire while its muzzle was presented to the breast of a savage, who, with his lifted hatchet, and a tremendous war whoop compelled him to surrender, and then bound him to a tree. At night he was stript, and a fire kindled to roast him alive, but a French officer saved him. The next day he arrived at Ticonderoga, and thence he was carried a prisoner to Montreal. He was soon after exchanged through the ingenuity of his fellow prisoner, Colonel Schuyler, and joined the army under Amherst, as lieutenant colonel in the 4th Connecticut regiment. In 1760, he accompanied the army from Oswego to Montreal. In 1762 commanded his regi- ment in the attack on Havana. In 1763, he rose to the rank of colonel, and accompanied an expedition against the western Indians, after which he returned to his farm. In 1770, he went to the Mississippi river to select some lands, but returned soon after, and was ploughing in his field in 1775, when he heard the news of the battle of Lexington. He immediately unyoked his team, left his plow on the spot, and without changing his clothes set off for Cambridge. In the battle of Bunker's hill he exhibited his usual intrepidity. When the army was organized by Gen. Washington at Cambridge, Putnam, who had been elected major general in June, 1775, was appointed to command the reserve. In August, 1776, he was stationed at Brooklyn, on Long Island. After the defeat of our army he went to New York, and was very serviceable in the city and neighborhood. In October, or November, he was sent to Philadelphia, to fortify that city; in January, 1777, was directed to take post at Princeton, where he continued until the following spring, when he was appointed to the command of a separate army in the Highlands of New York. After the loss of Fort Montgomery, the com- mander-in-chief determined to build another fortification, and he directed Putnam to fix upon the site. To him belongs the praise of having chosen West Point. The campaign of 1779, which was principally spent in strengthening the works at this place, finished the military career of Putnam. A paralytic affection im- paired the activity of his body, and he passed the remainder of his days in retire- ment, retaining his relish for enjoyment, his strength of memory, and all the faculties of his mind. He died at Brooklyn, Conn., May 29, 1790, aged 72."- Wil- son's Orderly Book, (Munsell's Historical Series), pp. 56-7, note.
(a) WILLIAM HAVILAND was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 27th, or Innis- killing foot, on the 16th Dec., 1752, which regiment sailed from New York with the expedition under Lord Loudoun, June 20th, and arrived at Halifax, first July, 1757, whence it was afterwards sent to the river St. John, but was countermanded on the way, and ordered to New York, in consequence of the siege of Fort William Henry, on Lake George. In 1758, it formed part of the army sent under General Abercrombie, against Ticonderoga, and in 1759, accompanied General Amherst up Lakes George and Champlain, in which expedition Colonel Haviland commanded the van, or front column of the army, composed of the rangers, light infantry and grenadiers. ยท
On the evacuation of Ticonderoga, by the French, he was dispatched at the head of these troops in pursuit of the retreating enemy. On the army being divided, in 1760, Col. Haviland, now brigadier general, was placed in command of the division designed to proceed against Montreal, by way of the lakes. This force amounted
318
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
regular army, with one hundred and sixty-two privates, detailed from the corps of rangers, proceeded in the direction of Ticon- deroga on another reconnoitering expedition.1 Through the medium of deserters and prisoners the enemy became seasonably advised of this enterprise, and being informed that the party was to consist of four hundred men, took measures to ambush and cut off its retreat. The first night's encampment was at the Half-way brook. The next was on the east side of Lake George near the Narrows. During their progress down the lake their movements were narrowly watched by the enemy who des- patched a force of seven hundred men up the west side of the lake to intercept and cut off their retreat. "On the morning of the thirteenth," according to Rogers's journal, " a council of officers determined that the best course was to proceed by land upon snow shoes, lest the enemy should discover the party on the lake. Accordingly the march was continued on the west shore, along the back of the mountains, which overlooked the French advanced guard, and the party halted two miles west of them when they refreshed themselves until three o'clock." A mile and a half further on, the advanced guard of about one hundred Indians was encountered and driven back upon the main body under the command of the Sieur de la Durantaye, when the rangers being completely outflanked and greatly outnumbered were routed and defeated with great slaughter, the French account2 claiming that they brought back one hundred and forty-six scalps, and retained only three prisoners to furnish
to 3400 men, and consisted of a part of the first royals, the 17th and 27th regiments, the Massachusetts regiments under Colonels Whitcomb and Willard, Colonel Goff's New Hampshire regiment, that of Rhode Island under Harris, five com- panies of rangers under Rogers, and a detachment of artillery under Colonel Ord.
He set out from Albany in the month of June, and sailed from Crown Point on the 11th of August, and after successively reducing Isle Aux Noix, St. Johns, Fort Therese, and Chambly, crossed over to Longueil, and entered Montreal with Am- herst, in September. On the 9th December, following, he was appointed colonel commandant of the 4th Battalion of the 60th Royal Americans. In February, 1762, he was senior brigadier general at the reduction of the island of Martinico ; he was appointed major general, 10th July, and commanded the 4th brigade at the siege of Havana, in August following. In 1767, he became colonel of the 45th ; lieutenant general the 25th of May, 1772 ; general in the army 19th February, 1783, and died in September, 1788 .- Army Lists ; Knox's Journal and Beaton's Mil. and Naval Memoirs ; Wilson's Orderly Book, pp. 1 and 2, note.
1 " The course which our troops took during the last war, was generally to land on Sabbath day point, whence a road leads to Ticonderoga."- Gov. Pownall's Topo- graphical Description.
2 Documents relating to the Colonial Hist. of N. Y., vol. x, p. 693.
319
CAPT. JOHN STARK.
live letters to their father. The same account adds in a vein of grim humor, "our Indians would not give any quarter." The French loss was reported at twenty-seven killed and wounded . Rogers's force, dispersed and scattered through the woods, sought safety in flight or temporary concealment, the snow being very deep rendered pursuit both difficult and dangerous. As snow shoes constituted a part of the rangers' outfit, they became an important agency in the escape of those who survived the con- flict. It was the memorable events connected with this affair that has made Rogers's rock an object of interest to tourists and a landmark of history. The fugitives. were met near the Narrows on their retreat by Capt. John Stark (a) with a timely reinforcement, and a supply of blankets, sleighs and provisions. They reached Fort Edward on the night of the fifteenth.
Pursuant to orders awaiting him, Rogers repaired to New York, to confer with General Abercrombie, by whom he was received with distinguished consideration, and who, at this time conferred upon him the rank and commission of major. He was instructed to report to Lord Howe, who was then at Albany engaged in organizing the army and making other preparations for the campaign. After concerting and maturing their plans, Rogers hurried north and resumed command of his justly cele- brated corps.
Colonel Grant was now in command at Fort Edward. The rangers were immediately divided into several detachments, and
1 The same extraordinary discrepancies attend the reports of this affair that char- acterize the returns connected with all the forest frays and general engagements of this war. The English account makes the French loss over fifty at the first fire, while the number of Canadians and Indians engaged is stated at seven hun- dred. The official returns of the English loss, including killed, wounded and missing was ninety five.
(4) JOHN STARK was born at Londonderry, N. H., 28th August, 1728, and in 1752 was a captive among the Indians of St. Francis. He served as captain of rangers in the French war, and at the opening of the Revolution received a commis- sion ar colonel, and fought at Bunker bill in June, 1775 ; wem in 1776 to Canada, and at Trenton commanded the van of the right wing of the American army. He was also in the battle of Princeton, but being omitted in the promotions, threw up his commission March, 1777. He raised a body of troops in New Hampshire, and in August following, defeated Col. Baum at Wallumschack. After this he was reinstated in the Continental army as brigadier general He served in Rhode Island in 1778-9, and in 1780 in New Jersey ; in 1781, had the command of the northern department, and was one of the members of the court martial on Major Andre. He died, full of years and honors, May 8th, 1822, aged 93 years, and was buried on a small hill on the banks of the Merrimack river,-Wilson's Orderly Book (Munwell's Historical Series), p. 23, note.
320
HISTORY OF THE TOWN OF QUEENSBURY.
despatched by various routes to the north in quest of informa- tion. Captain Stark was sent down the west side of the lake to reconnoitre the enemy's position at Ticonderoga. The cele- brated chief Nawnawapatconks, or Captain Jacobs, with a large party of Mohegan Indians, proceeded down the east side of the lake on a similar errand. Captain Burbank with another party was despatched to harass the enemy and if possi- ble to take some prisoners; while Major Rogers, with a party of eighteen, proceeded to Crown Point, where one Frenchman was killed, and three others made prisoners. With the latter, he reached camp on the ninth of May. From that time to the tenth of June, Rogers's journal gives evidence of almost con- stant, and frequently perilous scouting service.
At this time all the detachments were ordered in, and placed under the direction of Lord Howe, who had reached Fort Edward on the eighth with one half the army. On the twelfth, Rogers with fifty men, started on another scout in the direction of the French posts. The next day the party was ambushed by a superior force of the enemy, in which three of the French, and eight of the Provincials were killed. On their return, they encountered, on the twentieth, Lord Howe, who was encamped at the Half-way brook with two thousand men.1 Having re- ported the result of his encounter, he obtained permission to wait on Gen. Abercrombie at Fort Edward, from whom he received instructions to rejoin his lordship with the entire corps of rangers, numbering about six hundred.
On the twenty-second, this advanced force encamped on the ruins of Fort William Henry, the rangers taking position on the west side, near the base of Rattle Snake mountain. Several scouting parties were daily detached to keep a sharp lookout
' It is conjectured that this force was encamped on what is known to the pre- sent day as the garrison ground situated on the south bank of the Half-way brook about midway between the Champlain tannery, and the brickyard. The old military road at this point ran eastwardly of the plank road, crossing it at an acute angle, and crossing the brook about four rods above the present bridge. A part of the old abutments and causeway are still to be seen. The block house stood west of the brick dwelling house lately owned and occupied by Ezra Bene- dict. A branch road leading to the garrison ground crossed the brook a short distance below the plank road bridge. It is highly probable that at this time log buildings were erected at the lower camping ground, which were subse- quently occupied by the forces under Amherst, and later on by large bodies during the Revolutionary war. 'The road across the flat further north, was quite tor- tuous in its course, crossing the track of the plank road some five or six times, and then turning off to the right in the direction of the Blind rock.
321
ADVANCES AND RETREATS.
on the enemy's movements. One of them, consisting of seven- teen men and two lieutenants, was captured while proceeding down the lake in whale boats, by a force of two hundred Cana- dians, who intercepted and cut off their retreat. The details of that imposing gathering, its splendid and brilliant array, the triumphal advance down Lake George, the disastrous skirmish of the morning, in which Lord Howe, the idol and hope of the English army 1 was killed, the assault and defeat at the intrench- ments of Carillon, the precipitate and inglorious retreat of Abercrombie to the head of Lake George, do not come within the scope of this work. Immediately following these events, Montcalm placed in the field several flying detachments of Canadians and Indians, whose special duty it became to harass the small outposts between Lake George and Fort Edward ; cut off the supplies, baggage and munitions of the English army, and waylay several parties in their transit between the princi- pal posts.
Abercrombie's defeat took place on the eighth of July, 1758.2 On Friday the twentieth of July, succeeding this event, a de- tachment of four hundred men, consisting of Canadians and Indians, under the command of M. St. de Luc la Corne, a colonial officer, attacked an English force of one hundred and fifty men,
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.