pulent.* Immediately before Col. Williams began his march, he mounted a stage, and harangued his people. He had a strong masculine voice; and, it was thought, might be distinctly heard at the distance of half a mile a fact, which, to my own view, has diffused a new degree of probability over Homer's representations of the effects, produced by the speeches, and shouts, of his heroes. Lieut. Col. Pomeroy, who was present, and heard this effusion of Indian eloquence, told me, that, although he did not understand a word of the language, yet such was the animation of Hendrick, the fire of his eye, the force of his gesture, the strength of his emphasis, the apparent propriety of the inflexions of his voice, and the natural appearance of his whole manner, that himself was more deeply affected with this speech, than with any other, which he had ever heard. In the Pennsylvania Gazette, Sept. 25, 1755, he is styled "the Famous Hendrick, a renowned Indian warriour among the Mohawks :" and it is said, that his son, being told that his father was killed, giving the usual Indian groan upon such occasions, and suddenly putting his hand on his left breast, swore, that his father was still alive in that place, and that there stood his son.

Baron Dieskau was conveyed from Albany to New-York, and from thence to England; where soon after he died. He was an excellent officer; possessed very honourable feelings; and was adorned with highly polished manners. I know of but one stain upon his character. Before his engagement with Col. Williams corps, he gave orders to his troops neither to give nor take quarter.† As there was nothing, either in the nature of his enterprize, or in his circumstances, to justify this rigour; it is to be accounted one of those specimens of barbarity, which, it must be acknowledged, too frequently disgrace the human character.

The remainder of the campaign was idled away by Gen. Johnson in doing nothing. A person, who has examined the French works at Crown Point, will perceive, that he might easily have possessed himself of this fortress, had he made the attempt; as it is entirely commanded by rising grounds in the neighbourhood.

Instead of this, the French, immediately after their panic was over, erected a fortification at Ticonderoga; fifteen miles higher up Lake Champlain; and fixed themselves so much farther within the boundaries of the British possessions.

I have been thus minute in the history of this battle, not only on account of its inherent importance, but also because I conceive it has never been fairly, and fully, laid before the public. To Gen. Lyman particularly, justice has never been done; and but for me would probably never be done. I hope you will think this a sufficient apology for the length of the detail. I am, Sir, yours, &c.

LETTER IV.

Attack on Fort William Henry-Gallant defence by Col. Monroe-Capitulation and Massacre-Gen. Webb's Expedition to Ticonderoga-Retreat of the English Army-Journey continued-Dalton-Partridgefield--Worthington-Chesterfield -West-Hampton.

Dear Sir,

I MENTIONED in a preceding letter the situation, and appearance, of Fort William Henry; and observed, that it was a square structure, with regular bastions at the angles, bordered on the East and South sides by a swamp, on the West by a valley, and on the North by the beach of Lake George. On what principles such a work could have been erected in this spot is to me inexplicable. Its site is almost on a level with the waters of the Lake. By the lands in the vicinity, West and North-West, it is overlooked; and perfectly commanded by the eminence on which Fort George was afterwards built. I confess myself to be an imperfect judge of military operations; but among all the fortresses, of which I have any knowledge, this, so far as its situation is concerned, appears to have been the least fitted to answer the design, for which it was built. To Indians it might be formidable. Against the approaches of a regular army it could furnish little protection.

In the year 1757 the Earl of Loudoun was appointed Commander in Chief of the British forces in America; and saw himself, at the commencement of the season, at the head of twelve thousand regular troops, and perhaps as many provincials. Instead of marching directly against the French in Canada, as had been expected, his Lordship sailed for Halifax, with six thousand men, with an intention to direct his force against Louisbourg. Here, however, he received information, that a fleet from Brest had brought a strong reinforcement to the garrison, amounting now to six thousand regulars; and that the harbour was defended by seventeen ships of the line. His Lordship, therefore, gave

over the expedition to Louisbourg; and in the close of August returned to New-York.

In the mean time, the Marquis de Montcalm having obtained ample information of the situation of his enemies, proceeded with an army, of eight thousand men, including a numerous body of Indians from Ticonderoga, up Lake George, to attack Fort William Henry, garrisoned at that time, as is said, with about three thousand; principally regular troops. Early in the season the Marquis had made three different attacks upon the same fortress; all of which had been defeated by the skill, and courage, of the garrison, and Col. Monroe, its brave commander. To retrieve his own credit therefore, as well as to operate against the British nation, he proceeded upon this enterprise with not a little zeal and alacrity. The first night he landed on a point, called from this fact Frenchman's point; about sixteen miles from the head of the Lake. The next evening he landed again on the West side, about two miles from Fort William Henry. The following morning he appeared before the Fort, and sent this letter to Col. Monroe.

August 3d, 1757.

SIR, I have this morning invested your place, with a numerous army, a superiour artillery, and all the Savages from the higher parts of the country; the cruelty of which a detachment of your garrison have lately too much experienced. I am obliged in humanity to desire you to surrender your Fort. I have it yet in my power to restrain 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. I demand a decisive answer immediately; for which purpose I have sent you the Sieur Fantbrune, one of my Aid de Camps. You may credit what he will inform you, as from me. I am with respect, Sir, Your most humble,

most obedient, Servant,

MONTCALM.

To this demand Monroe verbally, and laconically, replied to the Messenger, "Tell Monsieur Montcalm, that I reject his proposal with disdain; and that I will defend the Fort, while I have a man able to fire a gun."

The Marquis pushed his operations with vigour. Six days the Fort was defended with unabated resolution, in full expectation of assistance from Gen. Webb, who lay at Fort Edward, fifteen miles distant, with an army of four thousand men. A capitulation was therefore concluded. The principal articles, stipulated, were, that the public property should be surrendered to the French, that the garrison should march out with the honours of war, with their arms, baggage, and a field-piece; and that they should be protected from the outrages of the Indians. The last of these articles was violated in the most shameful manner. The garrison, instead of being protected, had marched but a little distance, when the Savages fell upon them with the utmost fury, and butchered a great number of men, women, and children. Nothing could exceed the barbarity, displayed in this massacre. will be unnecessary for me to particularize these enormities after having given you so many accounts of Indian ferocity; and it is impossible to determine the number of those, who were killed. Of the New-Hampshire regiment, which brought up the rear, and suffered the most, eighty were lost out of two hundred. Carver makes the whole number who were sacrificed, fifteen hundred. The transaction filled the British colonies with horrour. I was a little child, when it took place; and distinctly remember the strong emotions, which it every where excited, and which, hitherto, time has not been able to efface. From that day to the present it has been familiarly known by the emphatical appellation of the massacre at Fort William Henry.

It

Various efforts have been very complaisantly made on both sides of the Atlantic, to exculpate the Marquis de Montcalm from the blame, which he merited in this affair. In my own view, the gentlemen concerned exhibit more of the spirit of chivalry, than of equity, or truth. The Marquis had, the preceding year, violated the conditions on which the fort at Oswego had been sur