USA > Vermont > Grand Isle County > History of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vermont : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers. > Part 4
USA > Vermont > Franklin County > History of Franklin and Grand Isle counties, Vermont : With illustrations and biographical sketches of some of the prominent men and pioneers. > Part 4
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About this time France and England concluded another treaty of peace, which had the effect of temporarily ending expeditions on the part of their American colonists against each other, but not so with the Indians, for they respected no peace treaties between the governments, but continued to make war against their enemies and the white settle- ments in whatever locality promised the greatest return in plunder, cap-
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tives and scalps. But at last these savage warriors tired of their butch- ery, and agreed upon a peace that was maintained generally for nearly ten years; but about the year 1720, and for five years afterward, they were at constant warfare with each other, and this northern region, although the home of the Canadian Indians and within the region of the claimed French possessions, was frequently overrun by marauding bands on their way to the country south. The French spurred on their Indian followers to deeds of plunder among the English settlements, while the English themselves were likewise urging the Six Nations to make a war of extermination upon the savages of Canada. Such was the situation in this region at the end of the first quarter of the eight- eenth century. The Indians of this locality were allied to the cause of France, while the persuasive arts of the Jesuit priests had brought them under the standard of the church of Rome; which latter relation only served to urge them on to greater deeds of murder, and intensified their hatred of the English and their old enemies, the Iroquois.
Following the year 1725, for a period of nearly twenty years, the American colonists enjoyed an era of peace hitherto unprecedented in the history of the country. But this was only the calm that preceded the great storm of war that broke in 1744, and that raged with brief in- tervals for nearly twenty years thereafter, and finally ended in the over- throw and extinction of the French dominion in America, and in the acquisition of the whole country to Great Britain.
During this long interval of quiet, the American colonies, both French and English, appear to have understood, intuitively perhaps, that an- other outbreak was certain to come, for each with wonderful zeal and energy sought not only to extend their possessions, but as well to fortify every settlement by the construction of strong fortresses. By this time colonization in America had extended almost throughout the eastern provinces, and as far west as almost to the Mississippi River. Along the Ohio River and on the borders of the Great Lakes, even as far as De- troit, were built a series of fortifications, the greater number by the French, and all within convenient traveling distance from each other.
In the region of the present State of Vermont at that particular time there is understood as having been but few settled or occupied locali- ties. The French had their forts on Isle La Motte, at Colchester Point,
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the latter, however, but little more than a station, and at Addison, so- called, within the limits of the present county of that name; but whether these points were garrisoned by any force of men is perhaps question- able, for they were, with the exception of the first named-that on Isle La Motte, (Fort St. Anne), within the country of the Iroquois, and liable at any time to an attack from that nation. And further up the lake, even to Crown Point (Fort St. Frederick) had the crafty Frenchmen extended their line of fortifications. Fort St. Frederick was built in 1731, and in the same year the French built up a settlement at Chimney Point, within the limits of this State.
On the other hand, the English were not so active in pushing their settlements and fortresses to the farthest frontiers, their only fort within this State being that built in 1724, called Fort Dummer, and that with the belief that the locality was within the province of the Massachusetts Bay colony. But along the Massachusetts frontier, and in the province of New York, near the settlements of the English and Dutch, were the great part of their fortifications erected. Therefore by the time in which came the next outbreak of war between England and France, and con- sequently between their respective American colonies, both countries were reasonably well prepared for the struggle. After the erection of Fort Dummer, the English built others in the same region to protect the several localities in that frontier. One of these was Fort Number Four, at Charleston, N. H .; another was Bridgman's and Startwell's Fort, at Vernon, Vt., then, 1744, supposed to be within the province of New Hampshire.
In 1744 war was again declared between England and France, and its contagion was soon communicated to the colonies in America. In this country the scenes and events of the war were enacted throughout a vastly larger area than previously, on account of the extended posses- sions of both governments. But in this region the French held the vant- age ground, for they were strongly entrenched at Fort St. Frederick, and held there a strong body of troops ready for any expedition and emergency. To the northward, on both sides of the lake, were their own people and possessions, and from that direction, and from the east, as well, they had no fears of an attack. The enemy's country lay to the south of them, and they were able to make a sudden attack and with- draw at their pleasure.
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But it does not become this chapter to detail the events of this strug- gle other than as they transpired in the region of this State, and this narrative will therefore be confined to the scenes of this locality, except as may be necessary to keep perfect the connection of occurring events by referring to other operations elsewhere. And all that this volume need disclose is a mere synopsis of the events of the period.
During the first years of the war, the struggle on this side of the At- lantic at least, was feeble and indecisive, and the first event of note in this locality was the expedition by the French and Indians, commanded by M. de Vaudreuil, which proceeded from Crown Point against the fort and garrison at Williamstown in the province of Massachusetts, during the month of August, 1746. The attacking party numbered 900 men, French and Indians, while the defenders of the fort,-Fort Hoosic, -were but thirty-three, including women and children. After a strong resistance, Colonel Hawks, the commander of the fort, for lack of ammu- nition, was obliged to surrender. In this same year, and earlier in the season, a party of Indians made an attack upon Bridgman's fort in Ver- non, but were repulsed with considerable loss. The next year, how- ever, the fort was again attacked and demolished, and its occupants either killed or made captives.
After this disaster the settlers in the other forts, being apprehensive of a similar attack, took their families to the larger settlements in the south part of the province. This was a fortunate move, for in 1747 a strong body of French and Indians under M. Debeling made an attack upon Fort Number Four, but after a long struggle were repulsed with considerable loss. This fort was defended by Captain Phineas Stephens and forty men, while the attacking party numbered 400. The forego- ing events comprise all of importance that occurred within this region of the country, except that the Indians in their insatiate thirst for blood and plunder were continually harrassing the frontier English settle- ments, and every move they made was instigated by the French com- manders. Soon after this came a period of armistice between the con- tending governments, but the Indians kept the colonists in a state of terror by their marauding depredations.
By the terms of the treaty of Aix la Chapelle, in 1748, the contro- versy between the belligerent countries respecting claims in America
7
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HISTORY OF FRANKLIN AND GRAND ISLE COUNTIES.
was referred to commissioners appointed by the sovereign powers of the two nations. The commissioners met in Paris in 1752, but, after labor- ing some time to establish the rights of the litigants, were forced to abandon the subject, and the countries were once more involved in war. It is a somewhat remarkable fact that this combination of events gave birth to the conception of a union of the British colonies in America, which was consummated by the Declaration of Independence. On the 4th of July, 1754, a convention of delegates from the several colonies was held at Albany for the purpose of devising some general and effi- cient plan of operations in the impending struggle. The deliberations resulted in a resolution to apply to Parliament for an act constituting a grand legislative council, to be composed of delegates from the colonies, the proceedings of which were to be subject to the negative of a presi- dent-general chosen by the Crown. The plan, however, was rejected by both the colonies and the mother country; the former fearing that it conceded to the Crown prerogatives which would jeopardize their liberties, and the latter supposing it would vest the colonial assemblies with powers which it was not prepared to acknowledge. Furthermore, it is a singular fact, but nevertheless true, that the Declaration of Amer- ican Independence was promulgated exactly twenty-two years after the colonial union was proposed by the convention at Albany.
The events of the region during the two years next following 1752 were of no special importance so far as the war was concerned, but the interim had been employed by the French in strengthening their posi- tions and extending their line of defenses; so that, when hostilities were renewed they were much better prepared than before the armistice went into effect. But the meeting of delegates, at Albany, of the British col- onies had the effect of cementing a friendly relation through the several provinces, and they were thereafter more ready to act in concert than had been their previous custom. Early in 1755 Governor Shirley as - sembled the provincial assembly of Massachusetts for the purpose of or- ganizing a force to attack the French in their strongholds in the Cham- plain valley; and to this meeting the governor also invited a represen- tation from other colonies. The result was another general convention of the governors and commanders from the several British colonies and provinces, held at Albany during that year, at which it was determined
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to prepare and set out four expeditions against the French. At about this time General Braddock arrived in Virginia with two regiments of Irish troops. The English force being thus augmented, the four expe- ditions were decided upon as follows: one under Braddock against Fort Duquesne; one under Shirley, against Niagara; one under Colonel Johnson, against Crown Point; and one under Colonels Moncton and Winslow, against the French settlements in Nova Scotia.
But these several expeditions, however well planned, did not meet with the results hoped for by the committee. Braddock set out against Fort Duquesne, but not being acquainted with the Indian methods of warfare, and disregarding the advice of his American subordinates, fell into an ambuscade and was terribly beaten and his forces put to route. General Shirley's expedition for the reduction of Niagara accomplished nothing beyond strengthening the British position at Oswego. John- son placed General Lyman in command of his five or six hundred pro- vincial troops, which he had collected at Albany for the expedition against Crown Point, and sent him forward to the site of the present vil- lage of Fort Edward, where they erected a fort, to which the name men- tioned was given. On the 10th of August, Johnson moved forward from Albany with his troops, and took a position at the south end of Lake George, about fifteen miles distant from Fort Edward. Here he was informed that the French had taken possession of Ticonderoga, a posi- tion that commanded the communication between the lakes; and before Johnson could bring his artillery into position to dislodge them, the French had so securely intrenched and fortified their positions as to ren- der an attack of little use. In the meantime the French, being apprised of the English movements, hurried forward Baron Dieskau with a strong body of French and Indians to re-enforce their positions. And not to be on the defensive, the ambitious French commander determined to at- tack the English at Fort Edward, and moved forward for that purpose; but from this he was dissuaded by officers in his command, and then re- solved to assail Johnson's troops at Lake George. The battle was at once made, the French were repulsed, their brave commander himself, Dieskau, receiving a mortal wound. The garrison at Fort Edward came to the scene and attacked the French in their retreat. In this engage- ment the loss to the English amounted to one hundred and thirty killed,
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and sixty wounded, among the former being Colonel Williams, founder of Williams College; Major Ashley and Captains Ingersoll, Porter, Fer- rel, Stoddard and M'Ginnes, while Colonel Johnson was among the wounded. Among the Indians killed was Hendricks, a famous Mo- hawk sachem. The French loss was about seven hundred. Colonel Johnson did not follow up his victory by pursuing the French, but de- voted the balance of the season to building the fort, William Henry, at the end of Lake George.
The years 1756 and 1757 resulted in general disaster to the English arms. Notwithstanding the mother country had sent large re-enforce- ments of men and officers to the colonies, they were so inactive in per- forming and vacillating in policy as to accomplish no good, while the French, on the contrary, under the daring Montcalm, were prosecuting the war with great vigor and success. They reduced the English strong- hold at Oswego, and captured a large number of prisoners and a great quantity of military stores. In March, 1757, Montcalm set out to cap- ture Fort William Henry, which place he attacked on the 20th, but was repulsed with serious loss, and retired to Ticonderoga and Crown Point. A few weeks later Colonel Parker was sent down the lake with 400 men to attack the French at Ticonderoga; but his force fell into an ambuscade and were seriously beaten, only two officers and seventy men making their escape. Stimulated by this success, Montcalm again determined upon the reduction of Fort William Henry. To this end he collected his entire army of 10,000 men, regulars, Canadians and Indi- ans, and set out on the expedition. In the meantime General Webb had succeeded Lord Loudon in the command of the English troops, and was in charge at the time Montcalm was marching against the fort. Webb was informed of the movement, and himself withdrew to Fort Edward, but afterward sent Colonel Monroe with a thousand men to strengthen Fort William Henry. The next day after their arrival Montcalm's army reached the fort, and at once demanded its surrender, which was refused. Then he laid regular siege to the place, which con- tinued nearly ten days, during which time Monroe frequently sent to Webb for assistance, but that cowardly officer gave him no aid, but finally advised him to surrender. Articles of capitulation were agreed upon, and the English troops marched out of the fort; but, instead of
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affording them protection as he had promised, the French commander stood indifferently by and permitted the Indians to perpetrate the most devilish deeds of massacre and murder that the country had ever wit- nessed. The ferocious savages, not content with depriving their victims of life, mangled their dead bodies with scalping-knives and tomahawks, in all the wantonness of Indian hatred. On the following day, when Major Putnam arrived upon the scene, he found the fort entirely demol- ished, all the buildings a heap of ruins, while more than a hundred women, brutally and shockingly mangled, lay upon the ground.
These disasters to the English arms on this side of the Atlantic had the effect of urging the British government to adopt a more decisive policy with reference to her American colonies. The first great change and the one which proved most productive of good results, was that by which William Pitt was brought into the English ministry; and from that time forward the tide of affairs in the colonies took a most favora- ble course. While previous years were marked by disasters in succes- sion, those following were equally prominent in the grand results ac- complished. For the campaign of 1758 England sent large bodies of troops and numerous vessels of war to America. The plans for the year contemplated three expeditions, to be carried forward against the French at the same time, as follows: One, under General Amherst with 12,000 men was to move against Louisburg, in the island of Cape Bre- ton; the second, under General Forbes with 8,000 men was to proceed against Fort Duquesne, in the west; while the third army commanded by General Abercrombie 16,000 strong was to attempt the reduction of Ticonderoga, Crown Point and other French strongholds in the Cham- plain region. The first two of these expeditions were entirely successful, and the third, although it accomplished material results, did not termi- nate in the destruction of the enemy. On the 5th of July, 1758, Aber- crombie embarked his army of 7,000 regulars and 9,000 provincial troops at Fort William Henry, and landed the next day at the north end of Lake George. He formed his men into three columns and moved forward towards the French, whose advance lay entrenched be- hind a breastwork of logs. They retreated before the English, who fol- lowed them, but soon became entangled in the dense mass of fallen tim- ber and undergrowth of brush. Lord Howe and Major Putnam were
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in the front of the center column. A skirmish occurring on the left with the enemy, these officers filed off at the head of a hundred men and soon became engaged. The first fire was fatal to Lord Howe, but his fall only urged the troops to avenge the loss, and they attacked the en- emy with such vigor as to cut entirely through their lines, killing 300 and taking 148 prisoners. With this victory the English troops returned to their landing place and camped till the next day. Next came the ad- vance on Ticonderoga, which was garrisoned with 6,000 French troops, while a re enforcement of 3,000 more was daily expected. General Abercrombie hoped to take the fort before the re-enforcing party ar- rived, and to this end he sent an engineer to examine its defenses. The report being favorable, an advance was at once ordered with the inten- tion of taking the place by musketry assaults, but in endeavoring to ac- complish this work the men became entangled in the mass of brush and felled timber, and at the same time under a destructive fire from the en- emy, so they were compelled to retreat to their encampment. In this attack the loss to the English amounted to 1,800 men and 2,500 stand of arms. From here the determined Abercrombie next dispatched Gen- eral Stanwix to the carrying place between the Mohawk and Onondaga Rivers, where he built a fort. At the same time General Bradstreet with 3,000 men, mainly provincial troops, was sent against Fort Fron- tenac, at the outlet of Lake Ontario, with the result of the destruction of that fortification, and the capture of a large number of cannon, mor- tars and small arms, a considerable quantity of ammunition and army stores, and all the armed vessels of the enemy on the lake.
The generally favorable results achieved by the British during the year 1758 determined the plans for the campaigns of the succeeding year. With the opening of spring the French forces were found to be withdrawn from many of their outposts, and concentrated nearer the Canada provinces. In the early part of 1759 the plans of the British were decided. General Wolfe was to command an expedition against Quebec, General Prideaux and Sir William Johnson, the latter with his faithful Iroquois, were to proceed against the French strongholds at Ni- agara and others in that region, and General Amherst, commander-in- chief of the British forces in America, was to attempt the reduction of Ticonderoga, Crown Point and other posts in the Champlain region.
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General Amherst organized his troops as no officer had done before, and at once moved to the seat of operations, in front of Ticonderoga. But the French garrison there was but poorly prepared for a siege, and, after a feeble resistance, on the 27th of July, abandoned and demolished the fort, retiring to Crown Point. Amherst at once took possession, rebuilt the fortress, furnished it with a garrison of troops, and then marched against Crown Point. But this post, too, the French had abandoned, but not destroyed, and had retreated down the lake, both by land and water, and made a stand at Isle aux Noix, which point commanded the communication between Lake Champlain and Canada. The French forces concentrated here amounted to 3,500 men, together with four vessels, mounted with cannon, and sufficient artillery to make a formidable resistance. Amherst, being apprised of the French move- ment and of the strength of their position, determined not to pursue them until fully prepared for battle both on land and lake. He dis- patched a strong force to occupy and strengthen Crown Point and its fortifications, and then set about building vessels for transportation and warfare. In the meantime, with a view to punishing the Indians on ac- count of their murderous depredations on the New England frontier set- tlements, he sent out an expedition under command of Major Rogers, the force comprising 200 men, who were charged with the duty of de- stroying the Indian village of St. Francis, and the killing of as many savages as lay in his power. On the 12th of September Rogers em- barked at Crown Point and proceeded down the lake in bateaux. On the fifth day of his voyage, while encamped on the east side of the lake, the accidental explosion of a keg of gunpowder seriously injured a cap- tain and several men. These were at once sent back to Crown Point in charge of a detail of men, by all of which Roger's force was reduced to 142 effective men. He pushed on, however, to Missisco Bay, where he left the boats concealed in the bushes, and guarded by two of his rang- ers, and then advanced by land in the direction of the Indian village on the St. Lawrence. Two days later Rogers was overtaken by the men left to guard the boats, who informed their commander that a strong body of French had captured the boats, and were then coming in pur- suit of Rogers's force. Upon this Major Rogers sent eighteen of his men with the two rangers back to Crown Point to request General Am-
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herst to send provisions to Coos, on the Connecticut River, by which route he had decided to return. He then pushed rapidly toward St. Francis, determined if possible to accomplish the object of his expedi- tion before being overtaken by the French. On the 4th of October he reached a point near the village, and himself went forward in Indian garb for the purpose of reconnoiter, giving his faithful men an opportu- nity for needed rest. Rogers discovered the savages engaged in an In- dian dance, rejoicing over some recent victory. He then returned and brought his men forward to within 500 yards of the village, where they lay concealed until about four o'clock the next morning. By this time the dance was ended and the village entirely quiet, for the savages were wearied by their orgies. Rogers and his men then improved their op- portunity and commenced the attack, in Indian fashion, asking no mercy and granting none. Their determination to wipe out the whole village was greatly increased by the horrible sight of several hundred white scalps hanging from poles, around which the Indians had been dancing. The village had 300 inhabitants, and of this number 200 were killed out- right, while twenty were made prisoners. Rogers's loss amounted to one killed and six wounded. After completely destroying the settle- ment, Rogers at once directed his course toward the Connecticut River, proceeding by way of the St. Francis, thus hoping to avoid a meeting with the pursuing French party. He was overtaken, however, and sev- eral times attacked in the rear, with a loss of seven men. He therefore formed an ambuscade on his own track and utterly routed his pursuers.
As he had been requested, General Amherst sent Samuel Stevens and three others with a supply of provisions to Coos for Rogers and his men, but the relief party, when advanced as far as the mouth of the Pas- sumpsic River, became frightened at what they supposed were Indians, and fled in terror to Fort Number Four, Charlestown, N. H. The very same day Rogers and his men reached the spot, and although they saw the fires of the relief party still burning, they were greatly disappointed in obtaining no provisions. So disheartened, indeed, were some of the men that they died within twenty-four hours thereafter. Of those that survived nearly all made their way to Charlestown, but a few died be- fore reaching that place. From thence Rogers conducted his men back to Crown Point, arriving there on the first of December with less than a hundred followers.
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