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 9
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" Colonel Williams, perceiving the firing to be the heaviest from the ascent. to the right, ordered his troops to charge up the the hill with the hope of turn- ing the enemy's flank, and gaining a more elevated and commanding position. This was attempted, but they had no sooner changed front and advanced, than. a destructive volley was poured in upon them from the thickly guarded sum- mit, and the thinned ranks, stunned, swayed backward, closed up in a confused mob and fled panic stricken from the scene of action. Colonel Williams fell.
79
FRENCH AND ENGLISH RIVALRY.
dead at the head of his column.1 The command now devolved upon Lieu- tenant Colonel Whiting, who, after a while, succeeded in restoring a degree of order among the fugitives.
1 Colonel Ephraim Williams was born at Newtown, Mass., February 24th, 1715. His ancestors were of Welsh stock, having immigrated to America in 1630. The surroundings of his youth must have had a controlling influence in the formation of his character. Newtown at the time of his birth was on the extreme frontier, and exposed to all the horrors of rapine and massacre by the savages that were the invariable accompaniment of first settlements elsewhere in the new country. His early as- sociation with peril and privation tended to the formation of a character noted for its firmness, keen conception, bravery and honor. His parents died while he was quite young, and he was placed in the care of a grandfather, who was engaged in mercantile pursuits. In his grandfather's employ he made several voyages to foreign ports, spending some time in the different countries with which the colonists were in communication, thereby adding to his knowledge and broadening his mind with information gleaned by the way. At the beginning of the French war he was selected as a proper person to com- mand the troops of that section, and he was accordingly commissioned as captain, and was afterwards (in 1754) promoted to colonel. Until August, 1746, he was in command of Fort Massachusetts " which stood not far from the northeastern end of Saddle Mountain, within the present township of Adams, and on the eastern border of Hoosac river." At that date he marched at the head of the Massachusetts levies to join Governor Clinton at Albany, in the proposed invasion of the French settlements in Can- ada. While he was absent Fort Massachusetts was captured by the French : nder Vaudreuil and its garrison taken prisoners to Canada. In 1748 he was again in command of Fort Massachusetts, which had been rebuilt and garrisoned with one hundred men. In August of that year the fort was attacked by a force of two hundred French and Indians. Although drawn into an ambush in a successful sally for the rescue of four of his men who were returning from a scout, by intrepidity and brilliant maneuv- ering he escaped the clutches of the wily foe and escaped to the fort with the loss of but one man. In the campaign of 1755 he was ordered with his command to Albany. While awaiting here the move- ment of the troops he made his will, in which, after making certain bequests to relatives, he devised the remainder of his property to the establishment of a free school. The terms of his will being carried out and the school proving a success, the Legislature in 1793, erected it into a college, by the name of Williams College.
All trustworthy statements regarding the death of Colonel Williams show that he fell at the head of his troops at the beginning of the battle. Dr. Holden says: "He was shot through the head, and fell dead upon the spot. His body was hidden by two of his comrades, near the rock which bears his name, to prevent its mutilation by the savages. After the action it was buried by the side of the old military road at the foot of a pine tree. This place was originally designated by a small granite slab marked E. W.
"About forty years since, Dr. William H. Williams (nephew of the colonel), of Raleigh, N. C., exhumed the skull, and carried it off. The statement that the entire remains were subsequently re- moved is doubtless an error. The pine has fallen, but two thrifty scions, till within a few years, shaded the grave where the warrior sleeps.
" When the monument was put up, the grave was refilled and a pyramidal boulder still remain- ing, placed upon it, bearing the plain inscription E. W. 1755. In the year 1854, a plain marble shaft was placed by the alumni of Williams College upon the rock which bears his name. It contains the following inscriptions : -
EAST SIDE.
To the memory of COLONEL EPHRAIM WILLIAMS. A native of Newtown, Mass., who, after gallantly defend- ing the frontiers of his native State, served under General Johnson against the French and Indians, and nobly fell near this spot in the bloody conflict of Sept. 8th, 1755, in the 42d year of his age.
NORTH SIDE.
A lover of peace and learning, as courteous and gene-
80
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
" A temporary stand was made at the Bloody Pond. behind which the troops rallied, and the French were held in check for several minutes by the determined and resolute bravery of the provincials. Compelled at length from the numerical superiority of the enemy to give way, they resumed their retreat, constantly holding the pursuers in check by a scattering but well aimed fire from every cover which could be made available on the route. Theechoes of the protracted firing had been heard with gradually approaching nearness at the head of the lake, and hurried preparations were made for placing the camp in a defensible condition, for as yet no line of entrenchments had been thrown up, or any cover, redoubt, rifle pit or fortification constructed to retard the pro- gress of the enemy. The trunks of the trees, already fallen, were hastily piled up as a sort of rude breastwork in front, while the flanks and rear were pro- tected by seven field pieces and two mortars. The roadway was also com- manded by four large cannon advantageously posted. While these dispositions were being .made Lieutenent- Colonel Cole was dispatched with three hundred men to the assistance and relief of the defeated detachment. He met the fly- ing troops a little north of the Bloody Pond, and checked, by a well-timed volley, the pursuit of the enemy and covered the retreat of the fugitives into camp. So furious and disastrous had been this brief engagement that on reaching camp, the numbers of the French were greatly magnified by the ter- rified survivors, while, as usual on such occasions, their own powers and achievements were greatly exaggerated.
" Thus terminated the battle long known in fireside story and oral tradition as the bloody morning scout, which resulted in disaster and humiliation to the English cause, and well nigh terminated the fortunes of the day."
The losses of the English were severe, especially among the officers. The total loss of the whites was two hundred and sixteen dead and ninety-six
rous as he was brave and patriotic, Col. Williams sympathized deeply with the privations of the frontier settlers, and by his will, made at Albany, on his way to the field of battle, provided for the founding among them of an institution of learning, which has since been chartered as Williams College.
WEST SIDE.
Forti ac magnanimo EPH. WILLIAMS, Collegii Gulielmi Conditori; Qui in hostibus patriae repellendis, prope hoc saxum cecidit ; grati alumni posuetunt, A. D. 1854.
SOUTH SIDE.
This Monument is erected by the alumni of Williams College ; the ground donated by E. H. ROSEKRANS, M. W. PERRINE, J. HAVILAND.
" This monument and the scenes around it are now classic ground to every educated American, and are annually visited by hundreds, eager to pay the tribute of a pilgrimage to the shrine of a hero and a patriot."
81
FRENCH AND ENGLISH RIVALRY.
wounded, and of the Mohawks thirty-eight were killed and twelve wounded. The death loss is convincing evidence of the close range and fierceness of the action, evidence strengthened by the fact that few prisoners were taken, nearly all, as soon as fallen, being dispatched by the tomahawk and scalping-knife.
The Mohawks deeply mourned the death of their beloved chief, and it was with difficulty they were restrained from wreaking their vengeance upon the few captives taken.
The impetuous Dieskau, whose motto was, "Boldness wins," did not stop to reconnoitre, but started at the head of the French and Indians in rapid pur- suit of the retreating English. He hoped thus to enter and capture an unfor- tified camp. But Johnson and his skillful woodsmen from New England had not been idle. Trees were felled and hasty breastworks constructed, behind which a few cannon that were hurried from the lake were placed. When the Indians heard the roar of the guns, they again thwarted Dieskau's designs by "stopping short," and he also soon saw the Canadians "scattering right and left." 1
This defection forced Dieskau to make a brief halt near the works, which was of great advantage to his enemy. The second struggle of the battle now waged hotter than before and continued for more than four hours - the blood- iest and most obstinately contested the New World had yet witnessed. A vig- orous assault on the center by Dieskau's regulars was " thrown into disorder by the warm and constant fire of the artillery and colonial troops." He then assailed the left, was again repulsed and in a last desperate effort hurled his de- cimated force upon the right ; but in vain ; only a bloody repulse awaited him. The French regulars fought with great heroism, but were unequal to their un- dertaking. The Canadians and Indians were of but little assistance and "were dispersed by a few shots thrown into their midst."
The French general was wounded and disabled, but bravely refused to be carried from the field, and ordered his subordinate, Montrueil, to assume the command and make the best retreat possible. Two Canadians came to the re- lief of Dieskau, but one of them was shot and fell directly across the legs of the general, " to his great embarrassment," as he expressed it. While supporting himself against a tree here amid a hail of bullets, a refugee Frenchman came upon him and fired a bullet through both his hips, causing a wound which re- sulted in his death twelve years later. He was left by his king to suffer as a prisoner, neglected by his country, until the peace of 1763.
The French army. was now broken and scattered, and a routed party of about three hundred were encountered by a body of provincials under McGin- nis, of New Hampshire (who was killed in the action), and Folsom, of New York. The Frenchmen were put to flight in such confusion that all their bag- gage and ammunition was left behind for the victors.
1 Documentary History.
6
Lake George.
FIRST ENGAGEMENT 1 The Road , 2 French & Indians, 3 Hendrick, on Horseback, 4 Provincials, 5 Mohawks.
Lymars Fort.
YOSaratoga.
Mohawk's
D Horock.
Albany. i.
MY Scylers House. finit
Green Bush.
Kenderhook.
Claverack.
Lumugstons Manor.
Commuploron.
Coats Fill
Martin Hoffinans House .
Mountains's
Sopas
The Halfioay Hands.
...
Nuo Waidsor.
#Takepsy.
The Glass House\Sur
2000
100by sof!
Sugar Loaves. Antonys Nose,
Col. Moores - Folley.
Entrance High Lands.
Tappar Seat Corbile Poort
Dubs's Ferry
Saslo of Miles for the Length of the River
Stepping Stones.
Hudsons River
New
APlan of Ifinans now called. Fort Edward
A Plan of Fort William Henry
Scale of Miles. for the Wedth of the River.
1 1. J.
"
DIESKAU'S FIRST ENGAGEMENT. From Butler's " Lake George and Lake Champlain.'
-Geo
110
Lake?
33
George.
22€
34
20
Explanation :- 6. Canadians and Indians. - 7. French regulars attacking the center. - 8. The road. - 9. Provincials in action posted in front. - 10. The trees felled for the breastworks. - 11. Cannon. - 12. A cannon posted "advantageously" on the eminence. - 13. Place where Dieskan fell. - 14, 15. Cana- dians' attack. - 16. The man that shot Dieskau. - 17. Reserves. - 18. Woods and swainps. - 19. Morass. - 20. Cannon defending the flank. - 21. Baggage wagoos. - 22, 23, 24. Stores and ammunition. - 25. Mortars. - 26. Road to the Lake. - 27, 28, 29. Storehouse. - 30. Mohawks. - 31. Gen. Johnson's tent .- 32. Lyman's regiment. - 33. Col. Harris' company. - 34. Col. Cockroft. - 35. Col. Williams. - 36. Col. Ruggles. - 37. Col. Titcomb. - 38. Col Guttridge. - 39. Officers.
DIESKAU'S SECOND ENGAGEMENT. From Butler's " Lake George and Lake Champalin."
84
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
The losses were about equal on both sides, amounting to four hundred and fifty of the French, and something less by the English and Mohawks. Deci- sive victory rested with neither. The British were prevented for the time from the conquest of Lake Champlain, an object of no small advantage to the French. But the colonists achieved an actual triumph of arms which, follow- ing closely upon the disasters of Braddock, filled the land with rejoicing. The French and Canadians were taught that in the New England colonies was grow- ing an element of military strength and heroism that could not be lightly en- countered - an element that in later days was to win freedom for the country.
" Dieskau appears not to have been adapted by temperament or manners to conciliate the attachment or to command the confidence of his savage allies. Instead of indulging in familiar intercourse and yielding to their habits and peculiarities, he maintained with them -and equally with his subordinates and the Canadians-the stately German style of seclusion and exclusiveness. This course destroyed the influence and devotion, which could only be exerted over their rude and capricious nature, by controlling their impulses and affec- tions."
Johnson was wounded early in the battle and turned the command over to General Lyman,1 of the Massachusetts division. His enthusiastic soldiers and the impetuous Mohawks would have pursued the fleeing French and Cana- dians, but Johnson, either through over-cautiousness or timidity, restrained them, and the French continued their retreat unmolested to Carillon. A vig- orous prosecution of the campaign as originally planned was urged by the people of the colonies. The French were partially paralyzed by the defeat ; the walls of St. Frederic were crumbling, and the fortress at Ticonderoga was still unfinished. But Johnson neglected what was undoubtedly his great oppor- tunity and spent the remainder of the season in erecting Fort William Henry at the head of Lake George; the Mohawks returned to their homes.
CHAPTER VII.
FRENCH AND ENGLISH WAR.
Plans of the Campaign - Apathy and Indecision of the English - Brilliant Deeds of the Rangers - Arrival of Montcalm - Capture of Oswego - Campaign of 1757- Marin's Operations - Montcalm's Preparations for the Capture of Fort William Henry -- Council with the Indians - March of De Levis - Condition of the Fort - Webb's Pusillanimous Conduct - Details of the Massacre.
A FTER the hostilities above described, strange as it may appear, it was not till the following year, as hereinbefore mentioned, that a formal declaration of war was proclaimed between England and France. In the year 1756 an-
1 Johnson's conduct seems to have been neither just nor magnanimous. He ascribed all the glory of the event to himself; Lyman was not named in his report, and but slight mention was made of other officers. Yet Johnson was rewarded with a baronetcy, £5,000 and the appointment of superin- tendent of Indian affairs, which was wrong from the pittance allowed the colonies for their burdens.
85
FRENCH AND ENGLISH WAR.
other force was organized for an attack upon Crown Point. Sir Charles Hardy, who arrived as governor of New York in September, 1755, had delegated most of his civil duties to De Lancey, and in 1757 resigned. The campaign of 1756, as planned, comprised movements against Fort Niagara with six thousand men, Fort Du Quesne with three thousand men and Crown Point with ten thousand, while two thousand were to advance on the French settlements on the Chair- dière and to Quebec - a campaign of sufficient magnitude surely. The popu- lation of the province of New York was then 96,775. The expedition against Crown Point was entrusted to General John Winslow, but lacking confidence in the number of his force, he awaited reinforcements from England. Lord Loudoun had recently been appointed commander-in-chief and governor of Virginia, with General Abercrombie second in command. Late in June the latter arrived with troops to reinforce General Winslow, but he at once blighted all prospects of success in the field, by placing regular officers above the pro- vincial officers of equal rank. Many men deserted and officers threatened to relinquish their commissions. This difficulty was finally adjusted by an agreement that the regulars should be assigned to garrison duty, the provin- cials to take the field. But through the dissensions, incapacity and apathetic indecision of the English commander, little was accomplished of an offensive character against the French during the year, other than the often brilliant ex- ploits of the American rangers, commanded by Rogers, Stark and others. In the language of Mr. Watson, "Rogers, the gallant ranger, was particularly con- spicuous in these wild and daring adventures. Sometimes stealing under the cover of night by the forts in canoes, he lay in ambush far down the lake, sur- prised and captured boats laden with supplies, which, unsuspicious of danger, were proceeding to relieve the garrisons. Frequently he approached the forts by land, and prowling about them with Indian skill and patience, until he as- certained the intelligence he was ordered to collect, he captured prisoners, shot down stragglers, burnt dwellings, and slaughtered cattle feeding around the works, and then defying pursuit, retreated in safety. In one of these bold in- cursions, which signalized the opening of the next year, Rogers and Stark had penetrated with a force of less than eighty men, to a point between the French fortresses, near the mouth of a stream, since known as Putnam's Creek, and there in ambush awaited their victims. A party of French are passing in gay and joyous security on the ice towards Ticonderoga. Part are taken, the rest escape and alarm the garrison. The rangers attempt to escape, pressing rap- idly along the snow path, in Indian file, as was their custom, but on ascending the crest of a hill they receive the fire of an overwhelming force, posted with every advantage to receive them. A fierce and bloody conflict ensued, protracted from near meridian until evening. The rangers retreating to a hill, are pro- tected by the covert of the trees and there gallantly sustain the unequal con- flict. Rogers, twice wounded, yields the command of the little band to Stark,
86
HISTORY OF WARREN COUNTY.
who, with infinite skill and courage, guides the battle, repulses the foe, with a loss far exceeding his entire force, and at night conducts a successful retreat to Lake George. This courageous band, reduced to forty-eight effective men, with their prisoners effected a retreat to Fort William Henry in safety."
A similar brilliant movement was attempted in the ensuing February, by the French and Canadians to the number of fifteen hundred, led by Vaudreuil. They traversed the ice and snow of Lakes Champlain and George, more than one hundred miles in an effort to surprise and capture Fort William Henry. But the vigilant garrison successfully defended the works, although the little fleet of bateaux and the huts of the rangers were destroyed.
The Marquis de Montcalm was made the successor of Dieskan in command of the French and their allies, and succeeded, even to a greater extent than had his predecessors, in winning the confidence and utilizing the power of the Indians.1 They were the most dreaded opponents and formidable enemies to the brilliant and heroic operations of the rangers under Rogers, Stark and Putnam.
Montcalm2 arrived at Quebec in May, 1756, and immediately made himself acquainted with the condition and prospects of his forces; and he found the situation anything but encouraging. He visited Carillon (Ticonderoga) where he had given but one day to inspection and consultation, when he was recalled by Vaudreuil. Early in August he had organized at Frontenac a force of about five thousand men, with which he rapidly advanced upon Oswego. Ab- ercrombie was informed at Albany of the contemplated attack, but the charac- teristic apathy of the English at that period prevented the necessary immediate action, instead of which Abercrombie and Loudoun began deliberate prepara- tions for a descent upon Ticonderoga and Crown Point. Reinforcements were sent to Forts Edward and William Henry. The opportunity for relieving Oswego was lost. After a brief defense the fort at that point capitulated (Au- gust IIth, 1756) and turned over to Montcalm sixteen hundred men, one hun- dred cannon, a large quantity of stores, and the vessels then in the harbor. Even the fall of Oswego did not awaken the energies of Loudoun. An attack was, however, made by the English, with a fleet of boats upon the outworks and flotilla at Ticonderoga; but Montcalm had proceeded thither and the at- tack was repulsed with severe loss.
·
1 The French, far more than the English, were successful in conducting military operations in asso- ciation with their savage auxiliaries. More flexible in their own feelings, they were more yielding and tolerant towards the peculiar habits and temperament of the Indians. Coercion and reason were pow- erless with such allies. They were often the most valuable auxiliaries, and achieved victory upon more than one important field ; but always unreliable, no safe calculations could be placed upon their ser- vices, their fidelity or constancy. Montcalm pronounced them inestimable as scouts and spies. - , WATSON.
2 He was of noble birth and thorough education, and entered the French army at fourteen ; distin- guished himself in the war of the Austrian succession in Germany, and gained the rank of colonel for his conduct in the battle of Piacenza, in Italy, in 1746. His career in the New World was marked by skill, heroism and humanity.
87
FRENCH AND ENGLISH WAR.
For the campaign of 1757 Loudoun made requisition for four thousand troops from the northern colonies, which were furnished, as was supposed for the reduction of Crown Point and Ticonderoga; but the incapable official again disappointed them, and in June made an ineffectual effort to capture Louisburg. This futile and impracticable scheme left the frontier colonies open and unpro- tected. The vigilant and sagacious enemy, from their watch-towers at Carillon, saw the error and prepared promptly to seize the advantage.
In July Marin 1 left Carillon with a small party of Indians and surprised and attacked near Fort Edward two detachments, which suffered severely at his hands. His retreat, made in the face of superior numbers, was successfully conducted. He brought in thirty-two scalps. In the same summer a party of three hundred and fifty English provincials, who were proceeding down Lake George, were surprised by a force of Ottawa Indians, under Corbière, at Sabbath-day Point. Only two boats and fifty men escaped.
It had now become a cherished purpose with Montcalm to destroy Fort William Henry, which was a source of constant anxiety to the Canadian gov- ernment, and he resolved to make the effort. The Indian warriors were sum- moned and responded in such numbers, from Lake Superior to Acadia, that Montcalm was constrained to write, "I have seized their manners and genius." This able general, with rare intuitiveness, mingled with the savages and took part in their ceremonies, made them liberal gifts, and then excited their pas- sions with visions of rich plunder and revenge. The French and Canadian forces were rapidly assembled at Crown Point and Carillon, where they were joined by the Indians. The latter came up the lake in two hundred canoes, accompanied by the priests, the war chants blending with missionary hymns. Across the portage of about three miles to Lake George, two hundred and fifty bateaux and two hundred canoes were transported, a work of great mag- nitude, and performed witout the aid of horses or oxen. The following day Montcalm called a council of his Indian allies. It should be understood that · at this time large numbers of the Five Nations had become settled in Canada, or had joined the French cause from other points, chiefly on account of the success of the French arms and the apathy of the English. On the occasion in question these Iroquois warriors acted the host and received the other tribes with hospitality. To the Iroquois Montcalm presented the " great belt of two thousand beads, to bind the Indians to each other and all to himself." He then unfolded to them his plans. De Levis, with twenty-two hundred French and Canadians, started two days in advance, under escort of six hundred In- dians, with the purpose of traversing the mountain track on the west side of the lake, leaving his baggage to come by water. On the first of August the
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