USA > New York > New York City > History of the New Netherlands, province of New York, and state of New York : to the adoption of the federal Constitution. Vol. I > Part 44
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 | Part 54
Lord Loudon and the other British commanders at Halifax; having ascertained, as they concluded, that the French force at Louisbourg was too great for the assembled armies which they had drawn from the colonies, and navies from England, gave up all thoughts of action : and Montcalm seized the opportunity given him, by Loudon's carrying a portion of the strength of New York on this fruitless errand to Halifax, and advanced rapidly with a force of 9,000 men, from his lake fortresses and Canada, to the siege of Fort William Henry and its garrison of about 3,000 men, under Colonel Monroe. This post had another in its vicinity- Fort Edward, with a force of 4,000 men, under General Webb. But Webb remained inactive at Fort Edward, within fourteen miles VOL. I 49
386
MONTCALM TAKES FORT WILLIAM HENRY.
.
of Monroe, and gave neither assistance nor advice, except by a letter, advising him to surrender.
The French general summoned Monroe to the same effect, and told him that humanity prompted him to desire the surrender of the fort before, by a vain resistance, the Indians of his army should be provoked beyond his power to restrain. "I have it, yet, in my .power," he said, " to restrain them, (the savages) and oblige them to observe a capitulation ; as hitherto none of them have been killed ; which will not be in my power, in other circumstances; and your insisting on defending your fort, can only retard the loss of it a few days, and must of necessity expose an unlucky garrison, who can receive no succour, considering the precautions I have taken."*
The answer of the colonel was verbal ; that he would defend the fortress to the utmost : and he did his duty faithfully ; but his ammunition being nearly expended, and all hopes of succour from Fort Edward at an end, he capitulated : agreeing for himself and garrison, not to serve against the French for eighteen months : Montcalm, on his part, allowing the garrison to march out with the honours of war-their baggage secured-and an escort for safety from the allies of France, until their arrival at Fort Edward.
Montcalm knew that Webb lay, with 4,000 men, within fourteen or fifteen miles of him, and granted good terms, as he must have expected that aid would arrive to the besieged from Fort Edward. We must believe that he intended to fulfil his engage- ments ; but when the savage is armed for murder, and his expecta- tions of plunder disappointed by the avowed intentions of the general to protect the baggage of the garrison, we can easily imagine that the passions of the Indians would be aroused to fury ; and probably he felt as if cheated, by the collusion of the whites, both of his feast of blood, and his much desired military equipments, arms, ammunition, glittering dresses-all wrested from his grasp, by the terms of capitulation. But, certain it is, that Montcalm and his troops did not risque the displeasure of the Indians, by defend- ing those who had trusted to the sacredness of a treaty ; and what makes his conduct appear more atrocious, is, that at Oswego, he had yielded to the demands of his Indians, and had given up to the hatchet or torture, twenty of his prisoners, to be immolated to the manes of twenty of their comrades, slain by their enemies. We know, likewise, that on former occasions, the French officers had rather encouraged than repressed the murderous ferocity of their allies ; and the conduct of the commander at Michilimackinack, in 1693, is well known-when the Iroquois were invited to feast on the flesh of a prisoner, taken from a tribe at enmity with them.
-
* See Dwight's Travels, vol. 3, p. 377.
.
387
MASSACRE OF PRISONERS.
The details of tortures inflicted on the captive, as given by Colden, are disgusting; and the example set by men, called civilized and christian, makes us doubt the intention of Montcalm, in the present instance, to repress the cruelty of his allies. That his disciplined European soldiers could have protected the prisoners, cannot be doubted; that they did not, is equally certain. It is to be feared, that this accomplished general sacrificed honour and humanity to the policy which told him, that he must not shed the blood of the Indian warriours in defence of what should have been dearer to him than any aid such friends could afford, or any political advantage that could be gained to his country by their alliance.
Again : the conduct of Monroe and his garrison ought to have excited the respect, if not the admiration, of asoldier-and a brave one-as Montcalm certainly was. The place defended, was a wretched, untenable fortification ; and the enemy was kept at bay six days; ten of the largest cannon of the English had burst; and Monroe's means of defence were exhausted, before he called a council to consider of terms or surrender.
Certain it is, that Montcalm knew the danger that the prisoners would be exposed to, from the Indians; his letter proves it; his conduct at Oswego, and all his experience prove it : yet he did not furnish an escort sufficient to protect the men he was in honour bound to secure from injury, or even insult ; and the troops de- tached for the service, made no effort to resist the attack of the Indians upon the defenceless captives, they were, as we are to hope, ordered to guard from harm. It is to be feared, that the guard was a mere mockery.
No sooner did the Indians see the troops divested of their arms, than they rushed upon them, seized their baggage, stripped them of their clothes, and murdered, or led them off, as a prey to their ava- rice or cruelty, as the whim of the moment dictated. Eighty men, of New Hampshire, were carried off as prisoners, by the Indians. Many were murdered on the spot. A part escaped, in the confu- sion of the scene, and taking refuge in the woods, after intolerable sufferings, found their way to Fort Edward. The Iroquois, who were part of Monroe's garrison, were murdered instantly, except such as were reserved for the torture. Notwithstanding this out- rage and confusion, it appears that the inadequate escort continued their march to the Hudson, and delivered a portion of the prisoners at Fort Edward ; Smollet says, the greater part. It is stated, that at least 1,500 persons were murdered or carried off to captivity worse than death : many of these sufferers were butchered with the most savage cruelty, or dragged through the swamps and thickets of the wilderness, in bleeding nakedness ; and many were women and children.
Webb appears to have determined to remain, unmoved by the
888
ABERCROMBIE, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.
dangers to which the garrison of Fort William Henry was exposed. The provincials of his army begged to be led to the rescue of their brethren ; but were refused. Montcalm, as if satisfied with inflict- ing this humiliating blow upon his armed adversaries, did not ad- vance upon Fort Edward, which, if carried, would have exposed Albany to destruction ; but the French general turned from the Hudson to the Mohawk River, and with fire and sword, laid waste the fruitful fields on its borders-burning the habitations of the German Flats, and subjecting the defenceless settlers to the toma- hawk and scalping-knife.
Thus ended the campaign of 1757-begun with threats of inva- sion, and the expulsion of the French from America-exhibiting the imbecility of the English commanders, in every movement --- and terminating in the disgrace of the British army, and the misery of the provincials they were bound to protect. 'T'he inhabitants of New York, however blind to the imperfections of any one dis- tinguished by title, have remembered Lord Loudon with sentiments of contempt, to the present day. In Massachusetts, he distinguished himself, by boldly threatening to march his majesty's troops upon the town of Boston, whose magistrates had hesitated to comply with his demands for quartering soldiers on the inhabitants. 1758 The next year, saw a change in the ministry of Great
Britain and in the efforts to carry on the war in America. Pitt, who complained that he could never ascertain what Lord Loudon was doing, superseded him, and by the same letters assured the provincial government, that Great Britain would send an armament sufficiently powerful to America, for offensive measures against the French, both by sea and land. Arms, ammunition, provisions, tents and boats, were to be furnished by the crown, for such troops as the provincial governours were required to raise for the approach- ing campaign. The provincial governments were ordered to levy clothes, and pay their soldiers ; and to appoint officers to the various regiments. His majesty would recommend to his parlia- ment to grant to the several provinces, such compensation as they might appear to merit.
New York and New Jersey, furnished their quotas of men for the intended conquest of Canada, with the same alacrity as was evinced by their New England brethen. The provincial troops were ready to take the field in May. Boscawen had arrived with a fleet at Halifax, on board which Amherst commanded 12,000 British troops, and had for his second in command the immortal Wolfe. These two officers, destined to be subjects of historick eulogium, were at this time subordinate to a man only entitled to be remembered with contempt and pity. General Abercrombie, pad the chief command in America, and was at the head of the
389
FRANKLIN IN LONDON.
greatest army that had ever been assembled in America. Of 50,000 men, 22,000, were regularly disciplined soldiers of Great Britain.
Benjamin Franklin now resided in London, as the advocate of America, being agent for several colonies : William Pitt, prime minister was much admired, and justly by the American statesman and philosopher. It might be supposed that such men would have been intimate-that their intercourse was frequent and familiar. No such thing. While Franklin ardently desired to see and con- verse with so great a man, Pitt with the arrogance of a man high in office, directing the destinies of a European nation, looked down coldly on a provincial post master, and colonial agent. Franklin made efforts to procure an interview, but says Grahame, was obliged to content himself with a complimentary assurance from another person, that the minister considered him a respectable person. A correspondence took place through the under secretaries, and the design of conquering and retaining Canada, owed much to the in- fluence of the despised American .*
* See Appendix, W.
390
LOUISBOURG TAKEN. :
CHAPTER XXIV.
Fort William Henry-The Iroquois-Lord Loudon-Louisbourg - Abercrombie, his defeat ; and the death of Lord Howe-Charles Lee-Bradstreet takes Fort Frontignac-Lieutenant-governour , De Lancey, meets the legislature-Mr. Pitt's requisitions for the campaign of 1559-Wolfe and Quebec-Amherst-Ticonderoga -Crown Point-Isle aux Noix-Prideaux-Niagara taken by Johnson. -
THE fall of Fort William Henry with its brave commander Mon- roe, and the miseries inflicted on the garrison, at a moment when General Webb, with 4,000 men lay within fifteen miles, carried terrour into the province, while it threw an indelible stain over the character of that general. To the demand of Monroe for assis- tance, he returned an answer advising him to surrender ; and the volunteers who offered to hasten with Sir William Johnson, to the relief of their companions, he refused permission to march.
The reinforcements Webb had received, probably prevented Montcalm's descent by the Hudson upon Albany, and caused his retiring into Canada with his army, after ravaging the valley of the Mohawk.
The Iroquois constantly degenerating from their once high stand .as honourable savages, saw in the French a people more powerful than the English, and yielded to the mercenary spirit, which had been increasing among them, so far that many of the Senecas, Onondagas, Cayugas, and Oneidas, joined the French in burning and ravaging the defenceless settlements on the German Flats.
The Earl of Loudon after his vain or mischievous visit to Hali- fax, returned to New York, and the troops brought from thence, were idle and vexatiously distributed in New York, Albany, and up the banks of the Mohawk. 1758
The English ministry directed by a man of energy, who saw, that to make the colonies useful to Britain, Canada must be conquered, now forms plans and raises forces under com- petent commanders for the purpose. Amherst aided by Wolfe, 12,000 men and a fleet, laid seige to Louisbourg, and reduced it in the month of June. But still the French held possession of Crown Point, Ticonderoga, and Lake Champlain, and the commander-
391
ABERCROMBIE'S EXPEDITION.
in-chief of the British forces in America, General Abercrombie, was fated to experience disgrace, defeat, and the loss of the best blood of England, by a most unwise attack upon the long threat- ened French fort, in the bosom of New York, and on the penin- sula of Ticonderoga.
The place of rendezvous was again Fort Edward, or the carrying place on the Hudson. The stores arrived from England. The New York troops were promptly at their post. Ten thousand provincials, and seven thousand English regularly disciplined troops, proceeded in all the pride and confidence of assured vic- tory, to the head of Lake George, late the scene of French triumph, but now brilliant with British chivalry, glowing and glittering in scarlet and gold. On the 5th of July, this overwhelming army embarked on the bosom of Lake George, in a thousand and thirty- five batteaux, with all the pomp of military parade, in the glare of a summer sun glancing back the glitter of burnished arms, while the woods resounded with the drum, the fife, the bugle, and the clarion.
We have had occasion to speak of the pride, pomp, and circum- stance, with which the French Count, Frontignac, astonished the wilderness when pouring a gallant French army upon the wigwams of the Iroquois; and others have described the stately march of ·Braddock through the woods leading to Duquesne ; but the army of Abercrombie passing from the south to the north of Lake George, amidst the wooded islands, that stud those transparent waters under a clear July sun, must have exceeded in magnificence, and mar- tial splendour, every scene yet beheld in America.
This army of 17,000 men was supplied with every requisite for - success, as far as human foresight could discern. A young noble- man accompanied Abercrombie, and commanded a regiment. The mass of mankind pay deference to titular distinction; and none more than Americans ; and no Americans more than the demo- cratick citizens of the United States. But, at the time Lord Howe arrived in the country, such a propensity was legitimate. The advantages which title gave him, were increased by a thousand good qualities ; and every good quality was exaggerated, because pos- sessed by a lord. Polite attention to his real equals or superiours, was considered amiable condescension ; and the duties of military station, when performed by my lord, appeared like a self-sacrifice for virtue's sake. Not to be indolent, dissipated, and arrogant, as the vulgar think a lord is privileged to be, was, in Lord Howe, considered as proofs of uncommon excellence, and, added to good education, courteous behaviour, youth, and a happy disposition, caused him to be almost adored by the British, and, perhaps, quite so, by the provincials. The unreal mockery of titular distinction, if it has such an effect, becomes a reality, through the force of
392
DEATH OF LORD HOWE:
men's imaginations, and gives its possessor an additional power for good or evil.
,
Howe, like a good soldier, set an example, by doing that which he required of others. The strictest discipline in his regiment was enforced in a manner that conciliated esteem ; he was known as the friend, and beloved as the father of his soldiers. In the very first operation of Abercrombie against 'Ticonderoga, this idol of the army fell, without producing any effect, but discouragement and an evil presentiment. The British army marched in four columns upon the advance guard of the French, who burnt their encampment and retreated. Howe advanced under the guidance of men not suffi- ciently skilful, and was soon bewildered in the surrounding thicket. The retreating French officer fell in with this very superiour force, but with admirable promptitude, formed, and delivered a deadly fire. Lord Howe and many of his men fell, and the French guard effected their retreat, though with loss.
This unexpected attack, and the fall of their commander, threw the British troops into confusion, already commenced by the laby- rinth into which they had been led. Those who in 1839, viewed this ground may imagine what it was wlien covered with wood, in 175S. The provincials, who accompanied the party led by Lord Howe, more used to such scenes than Englishmen, rallied, pursued, and besides taking many prisoners, shot down many of the French before they could reach shelter.
The death of Howe was most sensibly felt by Abercrombie's army. His military talents had raised high expectations, and his amiable manners, had commanded unbounded esteem.
. .
Without further opposition, Abercrombie took possession of ground pointed out for him by Colonel Bradstreet. The com- mander-in-chief, understanding that the French expected a large reinforcement, resolved on an immediate assault. His engineer, by his report, founded on a hasty survey of the place, encouraged the general's rashness. Without cannon it was determined to carry the works; and the troops were ordered to rush on the breastwork, reserving their fire until close upon the enemy.
The remains of the famous fortress of Ticonderoga, are yet seen by the traveller, as he passes on Lake Champlain. The peninsula on which they stand, is washed on one side by the outlet of Lake George, and on the other, by a cove setting back from Lake Cham- plain. Across this peninsula, the French lines were drawn, and defended by two redoubts and a high abattis.
With dauntless spirit, the British troops advanced ; but found themselves opposed by trees with interlaced boughs, forming a bar- rier, before they could reach the works they expected to attack ; and while bewildered and struggling with this unexpected impedi- ment, they were exposed to the galling fire of an enemy altogether
393
ABERCROMBIE'S DEFEAT.
sheltered and beyond their reach. For four hours, this scene of slaughter was continued : 2,000 of the English troops fell without making any impression on their foes ; and when the signal for retreat was given, the fruitless attack was succeeded by a precipitate and disastrous flight.
The loss of the English in killed, wounded, and missing, is stated at 1,944, principally of the regular troops. The French force is now believed to have been less than 2,000, and their loss but two or three officers, and a few men. General Abercrombie took no part in this action, but to order the assault and the retreat ; after which, the whole army was directed to return to the southern end of Lake George, where a fort called after his majesty, superseded the lines of William Henry, and commanded them. How crest- fallen must have been the return of this gallant host, as they were carried past the islands of the lake, so lately startled by their shouts of confidence and strains of triumphant martial music. The groans of the dying and wounded were now the mournful sounds, as the batteaux silently retraced their way over the waters. An over- whelming and humiliating consciousness of a fatal deficiency in their commanders, hung like a cloud over the disheartened and retreat- 'ing troops.
Howe's corpse was escorted to Albany by a young hero of native growth-Philip Schuyler-and another very dissimilar character from Howe, was received and nursed in the mansion of the Schuy- lers, at the Flats. This was the afterward notorious Charles Lee.
Lee was a captain in the forty-fourth regiment, and is twice mentioned by Mrs. Grant ; who says the army advanced in detach- ments from Albany by the Flats, to the residence of the Schuylers. " One of the first of these divisions was commanded by Lee, of frantick celebrity." She adds, " Captain Lee neglected to bring the customary warrants for impressing horses and oxen, &c. ; he, however, seized every thing he wanted where he could most readily find it, as if he were in a conquered country ; and, not content with this violence, poured forth a volley of execrations on those who presumed to question his right of appropriation. Even Mrs. Schuyler was not spared." Such is the testimony of a lady, her- self the daughter of an English officer, and partial to the military of her own country.
In a few days, the wounded of this proud army, after their de- feat, were brought back to the Flats, and received by the Schuylers as men and brethren. The barn was fitted up as a hospital, and a part of the house allotted to the surgeon, among whose patients, says Mrs. Grant, " was Lee-the same insolent and rapacious Lee -who had insulted the mistress of the mansion. He was received and treated as a child. Even Lee, says the writer, felt and ack- VOL I. 50
1
394
CAPTURE OF FORT FRONTIGNAC.
nowledged the resistless force of such generous humanity. He swore, in his vehement manner, he was sure there was a place reserved for her in heaven, though no other woman should be there." 1
Colonel Bradstreet, a provincial officer, suggested to Abercrom- bie an attack on Fort Frontignac : and he was permitted, with 3,000 men, mostly provincial troops, to undertake the reduction of that fort on Lake Ontario. With eight pieces of cannon and three mortars, he marched to Oswego, by the way of Albany, the Mo- hawk River, Wood Creek, the Oneida Lake, and Onondaga River, promptly embarked upon Lake Ontario in open boats, and on the 25th of August, landed within a mile of the French fort. He opened his batteries, and the place surrendered on the 27th. All the Indian allies of the French fled at the first gun ; and Bradstreet took possession of the fort, 46 pieces of cannon, 16 mortars, and a very great magazine of military stores, provisions, and merchan- dize. Bradstreet then returned, by Oswego, to the carrying place, now Rome, and garrisoned that post, so important for the com- mand of the Iroquois .*
In the meantime, General Forbes, to whom the expedition against Fort Duquesne was entrusted, after many delays, and sur-
* The troops with which Bradstreet, a native horn American, accomplished this important service, consisted of 135 regulars, 30 royal artillery, 1,112 New York provincials, 675 Massachusetts, 412 New Jersey, 318 Rhode Island, 300 batteaux- men, and some provincial rangers. The first detachment of New York troops was commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Charles Clinton, of Ulster, under whom were Captains Jonathan Ogden, of Westchester, Peter Dubois, of New York, Samuel Bladgely, of Duchess, and Daniel Wright, of Queens. The second was commanded by Lieutenant-colonel Isaac Corse, of Queens, and Major Nathaniel Woodhall, of Suffolk, and consisted of Captains Elias Hand. of Suffolk. Richard Hewlett, of Queens, Thomas Arrowsmith, of Richmond, William Humphrey, of Duchess, Ebenezer Seeley, of Ulster, and P. Yates and G. Van Schaick of Albany.
Colonel Clinton was the father of George, our first republican governour, and James, a general of the revolution. Woodhu Idied-a general-of wounds received on Long Island, inflicted after he was a prisoner to the British invaders. Van Schaick commanded the first regiment raised by New York to resist the pretensions of Britain, in 1775.
The troops of Bradstreet descended from the sources of the Mohawk, the 14th of August, 1758; and Fort Frontignac. at the entrance of Lake Ontario ficm tl.s St. Lawrence, surrendered the 27th. Colonel Peter Schuyler was exchanged for the commander.
Colonel Corse, above mentioned. of Queen's County, essentially contributed to the capture of Fort Frontignac. He volunteered, with his Long Island men. to erect a battery, on the night of the 26th of Angust. in the midst of the enemy's fire, which, opening in the morning, commanded the fort, and produced the surrender. Bradstreet's detachment returned to the carrying place, now Rome, by the 10th of September .- See T. Gordon's Gazetteer.
It would be a curious subject of inquiry, who, of the despised provincials of this time, were efficient officers in the war of the revolution ? General Washington, General Philip Schuyler, General Starke. General Lord Stirling, General Nathaniel Woodhull, Colonel Prescott, Colonel Van Schaick, General Wooster, General Daniel Morgan, are immediately suggested by the thought.
395
AMHERST, COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.
mounting many difficulties, reached that important fortress in No- vember. It was abandoned by the French, at his approach, and was called, in compliment to the English minister under whose auspices the war was conducted, Fort Pitt; and, in process of time, became Pittsburg.
-
Five regiments had been ordered from Louisbourg, to reinforce General Abercrombie, in the intended invasion of Canada-after driving the French from Ticonderoga and Crown Point. They arrived, only to be ordered to Albany for winter quarters.
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.