USA > New York > Warren County > History of Warren County [N.Y.] with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers > Part 10
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1 Marin was formerly connected with the French navy, but while yet young he was allured by the promised romance and daring of the border warfare in New France and joined the irregular forces of Indians and Canadians. His deeds were valorous, often sanguinary, but sometimes redeemed by gen- erous acts.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
remainder of the force embarked in the bateaux. After severe trials De Levis reached his destination and signaled the fact to Montcalm by means of fires at Ganaouské. On the same evening Montcalm marched towards the fort. Montcalm's force comprised about five thousand five hundred effective men and sixteen hundred Indians.
The fort was garrisoned by five hundred men, under the gallant veteran, Colonel Munro, and supported by seventeen hundred troops in an entrenched camp. General Webb was at Fort Edward, only fifteen miles distant, with four thousand men. Colonel Munro felt strong in his position under these favorable circumstance. Webb had visited Fort William Henry just before Montcalm's investment, escorted by a body of rangers under Putnam. The latter, in making a reconnaissance down the lake, discovered the approach of the French, which fact he immediately communicated to Webb and urged him to oppose their landing. Instead, he ignobly enjoined secrecy upon Putnam and hastily returned to Fort Edward. Learning of the movements of Mont- calm, Johnson had already marched to Fort Edward with a force of militia and Indians, reaching there on the second day of the siege. For six days the siege was continued, during which almost daily appeals were sent to Webb for aid. None was sent. He finally consented that Johnson should march with the militia and rangers to the relief of the beleaguered fortress; but he was peremptorily recalled after he had proceeded about three miles. Webb sent a letter1 to Munro advising surrender. It is clear that poltroons sometimes reach high station in the military as well as in civil life. Montcalm was fortunate. On the same day he received from France dispatches promising royal favors to the army and conferring upon himself the red ribbon with the rank of com- mander of St. Louis. The army was inspired to added enthusiasm.
Webb's letter to Munro was intercepted by Montcalm, who forwarded it to the fort, with a demand for its instant surrender. Further resistance was use- less, and with his ammunition nearly exhausted and half his guns useless, Munro was forced to hang out a flag of truce. Montcalm agreed to honorable terms, one stipulation being that the English troops should march out of the fort " with their arms and other honors of war, and receive an escort to Fort Edward. The following night was spent by the Indians in their customary orgies in celebration of a victory ; but they were disappointed that they could
1 This letter was written by an aide-de-camp, who says : " He [General Webb] has ordered me to acquaint yon that he does not think it prudent (as you know his strength at this place) to attempt a junction or to assist you, till reinforced by the militia of the colonies, for the immediate march of which repeated expresses have been sent. One of our scouts brought in a Canadian prisoner last night from the investing party, which is very large, and have possessed all the grounds five miles on this side of Fort William Henry. The number of the enemy is very considerable, the prisoners say eleven thou- sand, and have a large train of artillery, with mortars, and were to open their batteries this day (Aug. 4th). The general thought proper to send you this intelligence, that in case he should be so unfort- unate, from the delays of the militia, not to have it in his power to give you timely assistance, you might be able to make the best terms in your power," etc.
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not glut their vengeance with more blood, and a most horrible and disgrace- ful atrocity followed. As the garrison was marching from the works early in the morning, the Indians gathered about and began robbing and insulting the prisoners, brandishing their tomahawks and amusing themselves with the ter- ror inspired in their victims. Personal encounters ensued and with the first flow of blood the savages seemed transformed into demons. Slaughter began on all sides and the dismayed prisoners fled in confusion. At this juncture Montcalm and other French officers rushed upon the scene, bared their breasts and 'by threats, prayers, caresses and conflicts with the chiefs, arrested the massacre.'1 'Kill me,' cried Montcalm, 'but spare the English, who are under my protection.' Over one-half the English reached Fort Edward in broken squads ; four hundred were rescued with their property and restored under the capitulation of Montcalm and many others, through his solicitation, were ransomed from the Indians by Vaudreuil. About thirty were killed outright.
Montcalm has been impassionately charged with complicity in this outrage ; but it must be confessed that a calm review of the subject does not warrant such a charge.2
Fort William Henry was totally destroyed and all its stores and munitions captured. And all this was effected with a loss to the besiegers of only fifty- three men. General Webb sent his personal baggage to a place of safety and prepared to retreat from Fort Edward to the Hudson. The reduction of this fortification and the possible capture of Albany had been a part of the plans of Montcalm, but for sufficient reasons (chief among which was the required presence of his Canadian soldiers in their harvest fields in order to avert a famine) he retired satisfied with his success and glory. Meanwhile Loudoun had taken his position on Long Island ; the English had been driven from the Ohio and Montcalm had placed the valley of the St. Lawrence under the do- minion of France. Great Britain and her colonies were humiliated and fear- ful for the future.
A detailed account of the massacre of Fort William Henry, published by Dr. Holden in his History of Warren County, as an extract from a now very rare work, namely, "Travels in North America, by Jonathan Carver, captain of the Provincial troops in North America," cannot fail to be of interest to the people of Warren county. Dr. Holden says that it has long been the basis from which the various accounts of the affair have been prepared, and as an offset to the French account, is of value to the historian : -
1 Doc. History.
2 Such atrocities were utterly incompatible with his high character as a Christian noble, a gallant soldier, and a refined scholar, whose sensibilities had been purified and elevated by communion with the poets and philosophers of antiquity. But it (history) can never exonerate his fame from the im- putation of criminal negligence and a reckless disregard to the safety of those confided to his honor and protection by the most solemn act known to warfare. A moral responsibility rests upon those who set in motion a power, which they know they have no ability to guide or control. - WATSON.
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HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
"As a detail of the massacre at Fort William Henry, in the year 1757, the scene to which I refer cannot appear foreign to the design of this publication, but will serve to give my readers a just idea of the ferocity of this people. I shall take the liberty to insert it, apologizing at the same time for the length of the digression, and those egotisms which the relation renders unavoidable.
" General Webb, who commanded the English army in North America, which was then encamped at Fort Edward, having intelligence that the French troops under Mons. Montcalm were making some movements towards Fort William Henry, he detached a corps of about fifteen hundred men, consisting of English and provincials, to strengthen the garrison. In this party I went as a volunteer among the latter.
"The apprehensions of the English general were not without foundation ; for on the day of our arrival we saw Lake George (formerly Lake Sacrament), to which it lies contiguous, covered with an immense number of boats ; and in a few hours we found our lines attacked by the French general, who had just landed with eleven thousand regulars and Canadians, and two thousand Indians. Colonel Monro, a brave officer, commanded in the fort, and had no more than two thousand three hundred men with him, our detachment included.
" With these he made a gallant defense, and probably would have been able at last to preserve the fort had he been properly supported and permitted to continue his efforts. On every summons to surrender sent by the French general, who offered the most honorable terms, his answer repeatedly was, that he yet found himself in a condition to repel the most vigorous attacks his be- siegers were able to make; and if he thought his present force insufficient, he could soon be supplied with a greater number from the adjacent army.
" But the colonel, having acquainted General Webb of his situation, and desired he would send him some fresh troops, the general dispatched a messen- ger to him with a letter, wherein he informed him that it was not in his power to assist him, and therefore gave him orders to surrender up the fort on the best terms he could procure. This packet fell into the hands of the French general, who immediately sent a flag of truce, desiring a conference with the governor.
"They accordingly met, attended only by a small guard, in the center be- tween the lines; when Mons. Montcalm told the colonel that he was come in person to demand possession of the fort, as it belonged to the king, his master. The colonel replied that he knew not how that could be, nor should he surren- der it up whilst it was in his power to defend it.
" The French general rejoined, at the same time delivering the packet into the colonel's hand, 'By this anthority do I make the requisition.' The brave governor had no sooner read the contents of it, and become convinced that such were the orders of the commander-in-chief, and not to be disobeyed, than he hung his head in silence, and reluctantly entered into a negotiation.
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" In consideration of the gallant defense the garrison had made, they were permitted to march out with all the honors of war, to be allowed covered wag- ons to transport their baggage to Fort Edward, and a guard to protect them from the fury of the savages.
" The morning after the capitulation was signed, as day broke, the whole garrison, now consisting of about two thousand men, besides women and children, were drawn up within the lines, and on the point of marching off, when great numbers of Indians gathered about and began to plunder. We were first in hopes that this was their only view, and suffered them to proceed without opposition. Indeed it was not in our power to make any, had we been so inclined ; for though we were permitted to carry off our arms, yet we were not allowed a single round of ammunition. In these hopes, however, we were dis- appointed ; for presently some of them began to attack the sick and wounded, when such as were not able to crawl into the ranks, notwithstanding they en- deavored to avert the fury of their enemies by their shrieks or groans, were soon dispatched.
" Then we were fully in expectation that the disturbuace would have con- cluded, and our little army began to move; but in a short time we saw the front divison driven back, and discovered that we were entirely encircled by savages. We expected every moment that the guard, which the French by the articles of capitulation had agreed to allow us, would have arrived and put an end to our apprehensions; but none appeared. The Indians now began to strip every one without exception of their arms and clothes, and those who made the least resistance felt the weight of their tomahawks.
" I happened to be in the rear division, but it was not long before I shared the fate of my companions. Three or four of the savages laid hold of me, and whilst some held their weapons over my head, the others disrobed me of my coat, waistcoat, hat and buckles, omitting not to take from me what money I had in my pocket. As this was transacted close by the passage that led from the lines on to the plain, near which a French sentinel was posted, I ran to him and claimed his protection ; but he only called me an English dog, and thrust me with violence back again into the midst of the Indians.
"I now endeavored to join a body of our troops that were crowded together at some distance; but innumerable were the blows made at me with different weapons as I passed on; luckily, however, the savages were so close together that they could not strike at me without endangering each other. Notwithstanding which, one of them found means to make a thrust at me with a spear, which grazed my side, and from another I received a wound with the same kind of a weapon in my ankle. At length I gained the spot where my countrymen stood, and forced myself into the midst of them. But before I got thus far out of the hands of the Indians the collar and wristbands of my shirt were all that re- mained of it, and my flesh was scratched and torn in many places by their savage grips.
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" By this time the war-whoop was given, and the Indians began to murder those that were nearest to them without distinction. It is not in the power of words to give any tolerable idea of the horrid scene that now ensued; men, women and children were dispatched in the most wanton and cruel manner and immediately scalped. Many of these savages drank the blood of their victims as it flowed from the fatal wounds.
" We now perceived, though too late to avail us, that we were to expect no relief from the French; and that, contrary to the agreement they had so late- ly signed to allow us a sufficient force to protect us from these insults, they tacitly permitted them; for I could plainly perceive the French officers walk- ing about at some distance, discoursing together with apparent unconcern. For the honor of human nature I would hope that this flagrant breach of every sacred law proceeded rather from the savage disposition of the Indians, which I acknowledge it is sometimes almost impossible to control, and which now might have unexpectedly arrived to a pitch not easily to be restrained, than to any premeditated design in the French commander. An unprejudiced ob- server would, however, be apt to conclude that a body of ten thousand Chris- tian troops had it in their power to prevent the massacre from becoming so general. But whatever was the cause from which it arose, the consequences of it were dreadful, and not to be paralleled in modern history.
" As the circle in which I stood enclosed by this time was much thinned, and death seemed to be approaching with hasty strides, it was proposed by some of the most resolute to make one vigorous effort, and endeavor to force our way through the savages, the only probable method of preserving our lives that now remained. This, however desperate, was resolved on, and about twenty of us sprang at once into the midst of them.
" In a moment we were all separated, and what was the fate of my com- panions I could not learn till some months after, when I found that only six or seven of them effected their design. Intent only on my own hazardous situa- tion, I endeavored to make my way through my savage enemies in the best manner possible. And I have often been astonished since when I have recol- lected with what composure I took, as I did, every necessary step for my pres- ervation. Some I overturned, being at that time young and athletic, and others I passed by, dextrously avoiding their weapons; till at last two very stout chiefs of the most savage tribes, as I could distinguish by their dress, whose strength I could not resist, laid hold of me by each arm, and began to force me through the crowd.
" I now resigned myself to my fate, not doubting but that they intended to dispatch me, and then to satiate their vengeance with my blood, as I found they were hurrying me towards a retired swamp that lay at some distance. But before we had got a great many yards an English gentleman of some dis- tinction, as I could discover from his breeches, the only covering he had on,
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which were of fine scarlet velvet, rushed close by us. One of the Indians in- stantly relinquished his hold, and, springing on this new object, endeavored to seize him as his prey; but the gentleman, being strong, threw him on the ground and would probably have got away, had not he who held my other arm quitted me to assist his brother. I seized the opportunity and hastened away to another party of English troops that were yet unbroken, and stood in a body at some distance. But before I had taken many steps I hastily cast my eyes towards the gentleman, and saw the Indian's tomahawk gash into his back and heard him utter his last groan; this added both to my speed and desperation.
"I had left this shocking scene but a few yards when a fine boy about twelve years of age, that had hitherto escaped, came up to me and begged that I would let him lay hold of me, so that he might stand some chance of getting out of the hands of the savages. I told him that I would give him every assistance in my power, and to this purpose bid him lay hold ; but in a few minutes he was torn from my side, and by his shrieks I judge was soon demolished. I could not help forgetting my own cares for a minute to lament the fate of so young a sufferer ; but it was utterly impossible for me to take any methods to pre- vent it.
"I now got once more into the midst of friends, but we were unable to afford each other any succor. As this was the division that had advanced the furthest from the fort, I thought there might be a possibility (though but a bare one) of my forcing my way through the outer ranks of the Indians, and getting to a neighboring wood, which I perceived at some distance. I was still encouraged to hope by the almost miraculous preservation I had already experienced.
"Nor were my hopes in vain, or the efforts I made ineffectual. Suffice it to say that I reached the wood ; but by the time I had penetrated a little way into it my breath was so exhausted that I threw myself into a brake and lay for some minutes apparently at the last gasp. At length I recovered the power of respiration; but my apprehensions returned with all their former force when I saw several savages pass by, probably in pursuit of me, at no very great dis- tance. In this situation I knew not whether it was better to proceed, or en- deavor to conceal myself where I lay till night came on; fearing, however, that they would return the same way, I thought it most prudent to get further from the dreadful scene of my distresses. Accordingly, striking into another part of the wood, I hastened on as fast as the briars and the loss of my shoes would permit me, and after a slow progress of some hours, gained a hill that over- looked the plain that I had just left, from whence I could discern that the bloody storm raged with unabated fury.
"But not to tire my readers, I shall only add that, after passing three days without subsistence, and enduring the severity of the cold dews for three nights,
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I at length reached Fort Edward, where with proper care my body soon re- covered its wonted strength, and my mind, as far as the recollection of the late melancholy events would permit, its usual composure.
"It was computed that fifteen hundred persons were killed or made prison- ers by these savages during this fatal day. Many of the latter were carried off by them and never returned. A few, through favorable accidents, found their way back to their native country, after having experienced a long and severe- captivity.
" The brave Colonel Monro had hastened away soon after the confusion be- gan to endeavor to procure the guard agreed by the stipulation ; but his appli- cation proving ineffectual, he remained there till General Webb sent a party of troops to demand and protect him back to Fort Edward. But these un- happy occurrences, which would probably have been prevented had he been left to pursue his own plans, together with the loss of so many brave fellows,. murdered in cold blood, to whose valor he had been so lately a witness, made- such an impression on his mind that he did not long survive. He died in about three months, of a broken heart, and with truth it might be said that he- was an honor to his country.
" I mean not to point out the following circumstance as the immediate- judgment of heaven as an atonement for this slaughter; but I cannot omit that. very few of those different tribes of Indians that shared in it ever lived to re- turn home. The small-pox, by means of their communication with the Euro- peans, found its way among them and made an equal havoc to what they had done. The methods they pursued on the first attack of that disorder rendered it fatal. Whilst their blood was in a state of fermentation, and nature was- striving to throw out the peccant matter, they checked her operations by plung- ing into the water ; the consequence was that they died by hundreds. The- few that survived were transformed by it into hideous objects, and bore with. them to the grave the deep indented marks of this much-dreaded disease. . . . Mons. Montcalm died soon after on the plains of Quebec.
" That the unprovoked cruelty of this commander was not approved by the- generality of his countrymen I have since been convinced by many proofs. One only, however, which I received from a person who was a witness to it. shall I at present give : A Canadian merchant, of some consideration, having heard of the surrender of the English fort, celebrated the fortunate event with great rejoicing and hospitality, according to the custom of that country; but. no sooner did the news of the massacre which ensued reach his ears, than he put an immediate stop to his festivities, and exclaimed in the severest terms- against the inhuman permission ; declaring at the same time that those who- had connived'at it had thereby drawn down on that part of the king's domin- ions the vengeance of heaven. To this he added that he much feared the total loss of them would deservedly be the consequence. How truly this prediction has been verified we well know."
Road.
Bourlemaque.
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Referring to the scourging of the Indian tribes in the service of the French by small-pox, Carver says they contracted the disease " by means of their com- munication with the Europeans." In the Journals of Major Robert Rogers he says in a foot note: "My brother, Captain Richard Rogers, died with the small-pox a few days before this fort [Fort William Henry] was besieged; but such was the cruelty and rage of the enemy after their conquest, that they dug him up out of his grave, and scalped him."
Pouchot, in his Memoirs of the War of 1756-60, mentions an instance of disinterment of the dead - perhaps the same as that of Richard Rogers above noticed, and relates the consequences as follows: "The Indians as they set out to return to their country, carried with them a disease of which many died. Some of them, seeing new graves, disinterred the dead to take their scalps, but unfortunately found that they had died of small-pox, and the infection was thus given to the Indians. The Pouteotames nation, one of the bravest and most strongly attached to the French, almost entirely perished of this epidemic."
CHAPTER VIII.
CONTINUATION OF FRENCH AND ENGLISH WAR.
Prospects for Campaign of 1758 - Discouragement in New France - England's Preponderance - Rogers's Rangers and their Deeds - Putnam - Three Expeditions by the English - Fall of Louisburg and Du Quesne - March against Ticonderoga - Howe's Death - The French Position - Assault by the English on the French Lines - A Bloody Battle - Abercrombie's Headquarters - Victory of the French - Engagement at Half-Way Brook - Three Military Posts within the present limits of Warren County.
W HEN the reader of to-day reflects upon the relative situations of France and England in the New World at the beginning of the year 1758, he finds it difficult to believe that the latter government would submit to five years more of destructive war upon the colonies before establishing her do- minion over the territory south of the St. Lawrence. The vast disproportion in their material resources and military strength became constantly more ob- vious and decisive. The opening of the year named found Canada threatened with a famine. The harvest of the previous year was a failure, and the home government found it difficult to transmit supplies across an ocean thronged with the enemies ships. Montcalm wrote the French minister, "The article of provisions makes me tremble." The fact is a scarcity of provisions followed which caused many deaths by starvation. The population of Canada was esti- mated at only eighty-two thousand, from which Montcalm relied upon draw- ing about seven thousand men, a force which he could support with nearly four
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