CHAPTER XVI.
Expeditions against Louisburg, Crown Point, and Fort du Quesne.--Gen. Abercrombie's defeat.--Bradstreet's success against Fort Frontenac.--Forbe's success against Fort du Quesne.--Expeditions against Niagara, Montreal, and Quebec.--Col. Lieut. Colonel of the New Hampshire Regiment.--Fall of Ticonderoga and Crown Point.--Expeditions of the Rangers.--Destruction of St. Francis.--Disasters to the captors.--Lt. Phillips.--Sergeant Evans.--Lt. Campbell.--Benjamin Bradley.--Amherst returns to Crown Point.--Fall of Niagara.--Wolfe gains the Plains of Abraham.--Battle.--Death of Wolfe and Montclam [Montcalm].--Fall of Quebec.--The French attempt to retake Quebec.--DeLevi approaches that city.--City invested by the French.--British fleet arrives, and the siege is raised.--Gen. Amherst goes against Montreal.--N. H. Regiment under Col. Goffe.--Rendezvous at Litchfield.--Dress.--Origin of Yankee Doodle.--Regiment marches up the Souhegan to Peterborough.--Thence by the way of Keene to Number Four.--Cut a road to Crown Point.--Join the division under Col. Haviland.--French Fort at "Isle aux Noix."--Shipping destroyed.--Fort abandoned.--Rogers sent in pursuit of the enemy.--The division is joined by Gen. Amherst.--Pass down the St. Lawrence.--Gen. Murray marches up the St. Lawrence.--Forms a junction with Gen Amherst.--Invests Montreal.--The French Capitulate, and their power is at end in the Canadas.--Major Rogers sent up the Lakes to take possession of the French posts.--Returns to New York.
Pitt had been placed at the head of the government in England, and he had determined to cripple the power of the French in America, by expeditions against three important forts, Louisburg, Crown Point, and Fort du Quesne.
Against Louisburg, a powerful land force under Generals Amherst and Wolfe, and an equally powerful naval force under Admiral Boscawen, were destined, while Gen. Abercrombie was to march against Crown Point, and Gen. Forbes against Du Quesne, with a few battalions of regulars and the Provincial troops furnished for the occasion. Before Louisburg, union, skill, and bravery triumphed. What the cowardice of Louden and Holborne had left unattempted the summer preceding, the bravery of Amherst, Wolfe and Boscawen accomplished in this campaign. Louisburg, on the 27th of July, 1758, after a brave defence, under its gallant commander, the Chevalier de Drucour, again surrendered to the British arms.
By the middle of June, the colonies had sent their quotas of men to Albany, and Gen. Abercrombie had under his command the largest and best appointed army that ever had been mustered in America. It consisted of 6360 troops of the line, and 9000 of the Provincial militia. The object of this formidable force was the reduction of Ticonderoga, and Crown Point. About the end of June this vast force marched for Lake George and encamped around the ruins of Fort William Henry. Of this force, besides the Rangers, of whom more than one half were from New Hampshire, she furnished a regiment of 800 men under the command of Col. John Hart of Portsmouth.
John Goffe, Sen., was Lieut. Colonel in his regiment, while his son, John Goffe Jun., was 1st Lieut. in one of the compaaies [companies].
Capt. Alexander Todd, of Londonderry, was of this regiment, and commanded a company from this neighborhood. His roll was as follows;
Alexander Todd, Captain; Wilder Willard, 1st Lieut.; John Parker, 2d Lieut.; Benjamin Sawyer, Ensign; William Adams, Sergt.; Willard Wilson, Sergt.; James McMurphy, Sergt.; Joseph Parks, Sergt.; David Dickey, Corp.; Joseph Bagley, Corp.; William Hill, Corp.; John Chandler, Corp.
William McDugal, John Loggan, William Johnson, Hugh Quinton, Thomas Wason, Andrew Cockran, Alexander Parker, Robert Walker, John Mills, Joseph Linn, James Ligget, James Broddock, Moses Canaird, Benjamin Crossett, Robert McKnight, Mathew Templeton, Robert Rankin, Hugh Shirley, Robert McKinley, William Gambell, Mathew Wallace, Joseph Moore, Enoch Moore, John Kenny, James Aiken, James Gilmore, John McCalaster, John Robinson, John Wadley, James Robinson, James Chase, John Bryant, Nathaniel Meloon, Amaziah Dulittle, James Wallace, Solomon Drown, Samuel Megoon, John McDuggall, Robert Gilmore, Edward Chapman, David Edgerly, Thomas Dearborn, Elisha Bean, Jonathan Kinniston, Benj. Mason, John Roberts, Thomas George, William McMaster, Janes Hornar or Conner, Timothy Blazdell, Isaac Grove.
John Hazen of Haverhill Mass., afterwards of Haverhill, N. H. commanded a company in this regiment, all from this State and a large portion of them from this neighbohood. Nehemiah Lovewell of Dunstable also commanded a company in the same regiment, and in his company were a number of soldiers from this neighborhood. Captain Hazen's roll was as follows:
John Hazzen, Capt.; John Goffe Jun., 1st Lieut.; Joseph White, 2d Lieut.; Wm. Richardson, Ensign; Jabez Hoight Sergeant; Benja. Stone, Sergt.; Matthew Bryant, Sergt.; James Bryant, Sergt.; Jona. Kemble, Corp.; Benj. Batchelder, Corp.; Stephen Page, Corp.; Stephen Dow, Corp.
Aaron Copps, Thomas Crafford, Bond Little, Joseph Sawyer, David Copps, Caleb Emery, John Gage, Joshua Chase, Joshua Gile, Joseph Gage, Robert Cannada, Joseph Webster, Thomas Cannada, James Dustan, Stephen Prescutt, Nathan Colly, Silas Flood, Richard Dow, Richard Knight, Jeremiah Kent, John Lovewell, Daniel Flood, Parish Richardson, Caleb Marble, Jessa Wilson, Wm. Whittaker, Noah Emery, Joshua Howard, James Dow, Jeremiah Dow, Amos Pollard, Jona. Stevens, Daniel Clifford, Abner Sawyer, Jonas Clay, Abel Wright, Wm. Heath, Henry Benson, Wm. Flanders, Enoch Hale, Peter Whitteker, John Tarbox, Phillip Emerson, Levi Wyman, Asa Curtis, Jona. Colby, John Giles, Jona. Worster, Edmund Colby, Abner Wheeler, Asa Worster, John Foster, Robert Young, Jona. Hunt, Robert Greenough, Jona. Stickney, Josiah Heath, Benoni Coburn, Micajah Morrill, Timothy Page, Benoni Rowell, Nathl. Wood, Francis Knowlton, Joseph Lovewell.
On the 5th of July, 1758, this formidable force embarked on the waters of the Lake, in ten hundred and thirty-five boats, together with rafts for the artillery. The sight was grand and imposing, beyond description. Early on the morning of the 6th, the army disembarked on the west side of the lake. The Rangers were sent foward [forward] to scout the woods, and open the way for the army. They accomplished this object, and placing 150 men to watch the movements of the Fench [French], Rogers returned to report his proceedings, and for further duty.
The British army was formed into four columns, and the advance sounded. The forest was so dense that the march was difficult, and the columns became disordered. In this disorder they fell in with a detachment of 500 French, who were retreating upon their main army, and had lost their way. A sharp and bitter fight immediately ensued. The gallant Howe, the soul of the army, with his Light Infantry and the Rangers, advanced and broke the enemy. Being in advance of his troops he was shot down in the moment of success. Such was the disorder, that it is doubtful whether he fell from a shot of the enemy, or from the random fire of our own troops. The next day Rogers was sent forward to secure the bridge betwixt Lake George and Ticonderoga. It was held by a party of French and Indians. Rogers ordered a half to reconoitre their position, which brought the rear upon the front. Capt. John Stark was in the rear, and not understanding the cause, rushed forward and asked the cause of the delay. Receiving no answer, he rushed forward upon the bridge followed by the troops. The French retired with precipitation, and left the bridge clear for the passage of the English army. Major Rogers held the position with 450 men, while Capt. Stark with the remainder of the Rangers went with Capt. Abercrombie and Col. Clark the engineer, to reconnoitre the enemy's works. They returned in the evening, Col. Clark reporting, that the enemy's works were of little importance. Col. Clark however was of a different opinion, and did not hesitate to say, that the French had formidable preparations for defence. Stark was but a woodsman, and Clark was a British engineer, and the opinion of the former was unheeded, while most unfortunately that of the latter was followed. Early on the morning of the 8th Abercrombie relying upon the report of his engineer, as to the flimsy nature of the French defences, determined to commence the attack without bringing up his artillery. Accordingly as says Major Rogers;
"At 7 o'clock the Rangers were ordered to march. A Lieutenant of Capt. Stark led the advanced guard, which when within 300 yards of the entrenchments were ambushed and fired upon by 200 French. I immediately formed a front to support them and they maintained their ground till the enemy retreated. Soon after this, the batteau-men formed on my left and the light Infantry on my right. This fire of the enemy did not kill one of our men. Soon after, two Provincial Regiments, formed in my rear, at 200 yards distance. While the army was thus forming, a scattering fire was kept up between our flying parties and those of the enemy without the breastwork. At half past ten the greater part of the army being drawn up, a sharp fire commenced on the left wing, where Col. De Lancy's New York men and the batteau-men were posted. Upon this, I was ordered to drive the enemy within their works, and then to fall down that the piquets and grenadiers might march through. The enemy soon retired within their works; and Major Proby with his piquets marched within a few yards of the works, where he unfortunately fell. The enemy keeping up a steady fire, the soldiers were drawing back, when Col. Haldiman came up with the grenadiers to support them, followed by the battalions of the line."
The Grenadiers followed by the Highlanders, with unflinching courage dashed against the abattis, with which the approach to the front of the fortress had been covered. Here brought to a stand, or slowly feeling their way among the sharpened limbs of the trees, they were literally mown down by the deadly fire from the ramparts. The Highlanders with light clothing and armour, found less difficulty in approaching, and some of them passing the abattis, rushed upon the parapets only to die from the thrust of the bayonet. Nearly half of this gallant corps bit the dust. As those in front fell, their places were immediately filled from the rushing columns, but with the same result, sure but unavailing death. Thus was continued for near four hours, this useless slaughter. At length Gen. Abercrombie from his place of safety at the sawmills, ordered a retreat, and this large force still four times out numbering the enemy, retreated in confusion and dismay. The retreat was covered by the gallant Rogers and his Rangers or it would have became a complete route. As it was, Abercrombie did not consider his position safe till he had retreated to the place of landing, and then the presence of the intrepid Col. Bradstreet, alone prevented the troops from rushing into the boats, and perishing in the Lake. Through his exertions order war restored, and the troops held their position for the night, but on the 9th they retreated across the lake to the site of Fort William Henry. Thus this expedition was a complete failure through the doggedness and cowardice of the commander. Had he followed the opinion of Stark, he would have attackked [attacked] the strong-hold with his artillery, and distroyed [destroyed] it in an hour's time. But full of British doggedness, and cowardice, he must blindly follow the report of this engineer, made the attack with musketry, and suffered an inglorious and ignoble defeat.
This state of things was somewhat relieved by the events that followed. At Col. Bradstreet's earnest solicitations, he was sent by Abercrombie with a strong detachment against Fort Frontinac, on Lake Ontario. On the 25th of August he landed with his force within a mile of the Fort, and forthwith proceeded to invest it. On the 26th he had pushed his works so near the defences, that he was able to open upon them a most vigorous and effective fire. Early on the morning of 27th of August the garrison surrendered, having neither hope of reinforcement or successful resistance. Thus this important fortress, commanding Lake Ontario and its shipping, and filled with provisions and peltries, fell into the hands of the British and this without the loss of a single man!
And the expedition against Fort du Quesne, was equally successful. Gen. Forbes had been delayed by various causes, and so ill as to be carried on a litter; he did not arrive at Loyal Hanning within fifty miles of the Fort till the 5th of October. There a council of war was held, and it was determined to advance no farther that season. However, Washington was permitted to push foward on the 12th with a brigade of Provincials. At the head of these troops he hesitated not for sleet or snow, but pushed on into the valley of the Ohio.
The French commander, M. de Lignieres, being warned of his approach by his scouts, dismantled the fort, and setting it on fire retreated down the Ohio to the French settlements. On the 25th of November, Washington entered the long coveted, but now smouldering fortress, and planted thereon the British flag. He immediately set about repairing the fort, and gave it the name of Pittsburg, in honor of the man who had infusse soul and spirit into the British Colonists. Thus ended the campaign of 1758, brilliant in achievment, save alone the defeat before Ticonderoga, attributable to the incapacity of a General, selected by Court favor, rather than any merti [merit] of his own.
The British ministry determined upon an enegetic campaign for 1759. Gen. Amherst had been appointed Commander-in-Chief, and arrived at New York the 12th of December, and took command of the English forces. His success in the preceding campaign, promised much for the future. The confidence of the colonies was restored, and they readily responded to Mr. Pitt's call for troops. New Hampshire in spite of her former losses and disappointments, raised a regiment of a thousand men for the campaign. This regiment was commanded by Col. Zaccheus Lovewell, of Dunstable. One or two companies were from this immediate vicinity, and Amoskeag was well represented in them. Col. Goffe, of Derryfield, was second in command. The regiment marched across the country, and joined Gen. Amherst at Lake George.
The plan of the campaign was to send three expeditions against Niagara, Montreal, and Quebec. These strongholds were to be attacked at one and the same time, by powerful forces, thus dividing and distracting the forces of the French. The expedition against Quebec was under the command of Gen. James Wolfe, assisted by Admiral Saunders, with a powerful fleet; that against Niagara, was headed by Brig. General Prideaux; while Gen. Amherst, lead the forces against Montreal.
During the winter Gen. Amherst was actively engaged in preparations for the campaign, and in reconnoitering the posts of the enemy, and watching their movements. This last service of course devolved upon the Rangers. The weather during this winter was severely cold, and the snow in the neighborhood of the lakes, averaged four feet in depth, and the duty of scouting was not only dangerous, but extremely laborious. It was performed upon snow-shoes, mostly in the night, without fire when near the enemy's posts, and without covering when encamped, save of pine or hemlock boughs. So that aside from the hazards of the fight, the Rangers had to run the risk of frost-bitten limbs, or death itself from the same cause.
On the 3d of March orders were sent to Major Rogers to proceed with a detachment of Rangers, Regulars and Indians, to reconnoitre the enemy's works at Ticonderoga, and Crown Point. Mr. Brheme the engineer was in attendance. The detachment numbered 358 men. Major Rogers commenced his march the same day, and encamped for the night at Half-way Brook. His journal of this scout is as follows;
"On the 4th marched within a mile and a half of Lake George, and halted until evening that we might pass the enemy undiscovered, if any should be on the hill. We then continued our march until two o'clock in the morning, and halted at the first narrows; whence several of our party being frost bitten, were sent back in charge of a careful sergeant to Fort Edward.
At eleven o'clock on the evening of the 5th, we reached Sabath-day point, almost overcome with cold. At two o'clock continued our route, and arrived at the landing place at eight A. M. Here a scout was sent out, and reported that two working parties were to be seen on the east side, but none on the west. I judged this a suitable time for the engineer to make his observations; and leaving Capt. Williams in command of the Regulars, proceeded with the engineer, forty-nine Rangers, Capt. Lottridge, and forty-five Indians, to the isthmus, which overlooks the Fort, where he made his observations. We then returned to our party, leaving five Indians and one Ranger, to observe what numbers crossed the Lake from the east side, in the evening, that I might know how to attack them next morning. At dark the engineer went again to the entrenchments, with Lieut. Tute, and a guard of 10 men. He returned at midnight, having finished his business to his satisfaction. upon this, I ordered Capt. Williams and the Regulars, back to Sabbath-day point, they being so distressed with the cold, and having no snow-shoes, it appeared imprudent to march them any farther. Lieut. Tute and thirty Rangers, were sent with them, with orders to kindle fires upon the point. At three o'clock, I marched with three Lieutenants and forty Rangers, one Regular, and Capt. Lottridge's Indians, to attack the working parties when they crossed the Lake early in the morning. We crossed the South Bay, eight miles south of the Fort, and at six o'clock bore down opposite to it, within half a mile of the French parties employed in cutting wood. A scout of two Indians and two Rangers soon brought intelligence that they were forty in number, and at work close upon the Lake short nearly opposite the Fort. We want down upon them, took several prisoners, and destroyed most of the party in the retreat. Being discovered by the garrison, we were pursued by eighty Canadians and Indians, backed by 150 Regulars, who in a mile's march commenced a fire upon our rear. We halted upon a rising ground, repulsed the enemy before their whole party came up, and resumed our line of march abreast. Proceeding half a mile further our rear was again attacked, but we gained an advantageous post upon a long ridge, where we made a stand on the side opposite the enemy. The Canadians and Indians came very close, but receiving a warm fire from the Rangers and Mohawks, they broke immediately, were pursued, and entirely routed before their Regulars were killed, and one Indian wounded, and thirty of the enemy left dead upon the field. At twelve o'clock at night we reached Sabbath-day point, fifty miles from the place we left in the morning. Capt. Williams was up and received us with good fires, than which, nothing could be more acceptable to my party, several of whom had their feet frozen, the weather being exceisively cold, and the snow four feet deep. Next morning, the whole detachment marched to Long Island, on Lake George, and encamped for the night. During our march, some of the Rangers and Indians had leave to hunt on the Lake shore, and brought us plenty of venison.
At Lake George, we met the sleighs, and a detachment of 100 men, with whom we all arrived safe at Fort Edward."
Gen. Amherst arrived at Albany the first of May, and the army was organized for the field.
On the first of June the first division under Gen. Gage, advanced to the Lake. Capt. John Stark with three companies of Rangers accompanied this division, feeling the way through the wilderness for the advance. On the 20th of June the second division followed, accompanied by the Commander-in-Chief, Rogers and his Rangers forming a part of the advanced guard. The army remained in position near the Lake while the 21st day of July, when it embarked for Ticonderoga, numbering 11,130 men. It crossed the Lake in four divisions, the Rangers leading the advance and first effecting a landing. The enemy disembarked without molestation, and the Rangers were ordered across the mountains in the isthmus to secure the well known bridge at the saw-mills. The enemy were posted on the rising ground beyond the bridge, to dispute the passage, but Rogers and his party pushed on across the bridge, in spite of resistance, attacked the enemy in their position, and killing some, and taking several prisoners, routed the whole, before the advance of the main army under Col. Haviland, crossed the bridge. Soon after the main army came up and encamped for the night upon the heights near the saw mills.
The army was early in motion, on the morning of the 23d of July, and Major Rogers was ordered across the plain, to Lake Champlain, to take and maintain a position betwixt the lake and the enemy's breast-work. Meantime Gen. Amherst sent a detachment to attack the main breast-work upon the hill, which they carried without opposition, the enemy falling back upon the neighboring fort. The Rangers were equally successful, and took possession of a small entrenchment near the lake, with but little loss. The enemy thus hard pushed, and satisfied that the present Commander-in-Chief, had the will and the ability to accomplish his undertaking, during the following night, deserted the fort and proceeded down the lake, leaving a detachment of 400 men to continue the defence, and thus mask the retreat of the main army. These 400 men performed their part with the greatest gallantry, and the better to cover the retreat of their comrades, made a sortie from the fort and attacked the English in their entrenchments, putting them in the greatest confusion and disorder. Through the 24th, 25th, and 26th they kept up a continual fire upon the English works. On the 26th the English had advanced their works within 600 yards of the fort, and Major Rogers with his Rangers and some Indians kept up a most galling fire from them. The besieged could not work their guns without being picked off by his sharp shooters. Thus pressed, the gallant band determined upon retreat.
To secure a retreat, the French had stretched a strong boom of logs across the lake opposite the fort. This effectually stopped the passage of the English boats down the lake, and prevented pursuit. On the afternoon of the 26th, Major Rogers and 60 Rangers went up to Lake George, and carried two whale boats, and one flat-boat across the land to Lake Champlain. With these they embarked upon the lake after dark, for the purpose of sawing off the boom, and thus clear the way for cutting off the retreat of the French down the Lake. Accordingly about 9 o'clock in the evening, they approached the boom upon the eastern shore of the lake. Just at that moment there came a flash, then forked flames shot into the sky, illuminating the whole horizon, followed by a deep, deafening report, and anon the crashing of timbers, the falling of rocks, the splashing of fragments, and the booming of cannon, revealed the fact that the coveted fortress had been blown up! The French had deserted the fort, but to render the fortress useless to the English, and to do them as much damage as possible, they had left every gun charged and pointed; had mined the walls; and had connected these mines with the magazine by a lighted fuse! The scene was horrid and terrific. The retreat would have been accomplished without loss, had it not been for Rogers and his party. After their surprise at the terrible explosion was over, lighted by the flames from the burning fortress, Rogers and his Rangers discovered the retreating party and immediately crossed the lake and attacked them to considerable advantage, compelling them to run their boats ashore, and take refuge in the woods in large numbers. This attack was so successful, that on the following morning, ten boats were taken on the eastern shore, in which were 50 barrels of powder, a quantity of shot and shells, and a large amount of baggage.
Gen. Amherst took possession of the fort, and at once set about repairing it. Meantime, August 11, he sent to Major Rogers the following order.
"You are this night to send a Captain with a proper proportion of subalterns, and 200 men to Crown Point. Where they will post themselves in such a manner as not to be surprised and if attacked they are not to retreat, but to maintain their position until reinforced.
Major Rogers sent Capt. Brewer with this detachment, who after some skirmishing, secured a commanding position, and maintained it. But this precaution was needless, as the Rangers soon discovered that the main part of the French army had abandoned Crown Point. This fact was made known to Gen. Amherst on the morning of the 12th, and he forthwith sent foward [forward] a detachment and took possession of the Fort. Soon after he followed with the main body of his army, and encamped, and on the 13th commenced building a new Fort.
While thus employed, Capt. John Stark with 200 Rangers was detached to cut a road from Crown Point to Number Four, now Charleston. This was for the purpose of transporting troops and baggage from Charleston, it being the rendezvous for men enlisted in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.
During the same time, Gen. Amherst sent Capt. Kennedy with a flag of truce to the Indians of St. Francis, proposing to make peace with them, but these haughty Indians perfidiously retained this officer as a prisoner. The British General hearing of this treachery determined to chastise them. He accordingly issued the following order.
"You are this night to join the detachment of 200 men which were yesterday ordered out, and proceed to Missisqui Bay, from which you will proceed to attack the enemy's settlements on the south side of the St. Lawrence, in such a manner, as shall most effectually disgrace and injure the enmy [enemy], and redound to the honor and success of his Majesty's arm's. Remember the barbarities committed by the enemy's Indian scoundrels on every occasion, where they have had opportunities of showing their infamous cruelties, towards his Majesty's subjects. Take your revenge, but remember that although the villians have promiscuously murdered women and children, of all ages, it is my order that no women or children should be killed or hurt. When you have performed this service you will again join the army wherever it may be.
To MAJOR ROGERS.
Yours, &c. JEFF. AMHERST. Camp at Crown Point, Sep. 13, 1769.
Major Rogers started immediately upon this perilous expedition. His way lay hundreds of miles through the enemy's country, and the same an unborken [unbroken] wilderness. None other than Roger's Rangers, would ever have been thought capable of such an undertaking, and none but them would ever have accomplished the object of the expedition. On the 22d day after the scout left Crown Point, they arrived in the vicinity of St. Francis, the village having been discovered from a tree by one of the Rangers, when three miles distant. His party had now become reduced by various causalties [casualties] to 142 men. These were ordered to refresh themselves, while Rogers with Lieut. Turner and Ensign Avery went forward to reconnoitre the town. They found the Indians in the greatest glee, celebrating a wedding. Rogers remarks, that they "saw them execute several dances with the greatest spirit." He returned to the camp about two o'clock in the morning, having made a complete reconnoisance of the village. At three o'clock the whole party advanced upon the village and halted within 500 yards of it. There they left their packs and prepared for action. Divested of every incumbrance, the party formed in three divisions, and just as the day broke, they marched steadily upon the right, left, and centre [sic] of the devoted village. In perfect security, not a sentinel set, the entire village was wrapped in the depths of bacchanalian slumbers. The Rangers marched up to the very doors of the wigwams unobserved, and the several squads made choice of the wigwams they would attack. At length the wished for signal was given, and the attack commenced. There was little use of the musket, the Rangers leaped into the wigwams, and made sure work with the hatchet and knife. Never was surprise more complete. They had no time to recover from their surprise, or make any defence. They were almost all completely destroyed. Some few ran to the river and attempted to escape in their canoes, but they were pursued, their canoes sunk, and they themselves shot or drowned. They then fixed the village, and burned every hut except three, reserved for their own use. Many were burned with their houses, being secreted in the cellars and lofts. Among these were doubtless many women and children, as they made prisoners of only twenty of such, and destroyed none in any other way. Fifteen of the prisoners were suffered to depart, while three girls and two boys were retained. Never was work more thoroughly accomplished. And with but very little loss, as upon parading it was found that only one officer, and six privates were wounded, and but a single private, a Stock-bridge Indian, killed.
From the prisoners, Major Rogers learned that his path had been waylaid, and a council of war having been held, it was determined to return by the way of Connecticut River. This contingency had been provided for, and Gen. Amherst had, at Rogers' request, ordered provisions from Number Four to the mouth of the Amonoosuck River. The party immediately set out on their return, and marched in a body for eight days towards the sources of the Connecticut. At length upon the shores of Lake Memphramagog, their provisions failing, the party was divided into companies, each with a competent leader, and ordered to make the best of their way to the Amonoosuck River. Major Rogers with his party reached the place of rendezvous on the 5th of November. On the way he had been joined by Ensign Avery, whose party had been overtaken by the enemy. They had taken seven of his men prisoners, but two of them escaped and joined their friends. The rest came in safely with Rogers' party. Upon arriving at the Amonoosuck, they found no provisions. Lieut. Stevens, who had charge of them, tarried but two days and then passed down the river, foolishly taking with him all the provisions. Most of Rogers' party were unable to proceed any farther. In this dilemma, he left them for Number Four, promising to return with relief in ten days. He was accompanied by Capt. Ogden, a Ranger, and a captive Indian boy. The passage down the Connecticut was dangerous in the extreme. Major Rogers in describing it says,
"Captain Ogden, myself and a captive Indian boy, embarked upon a raft of dry pine trees. The current carried us down the stream in the middle of the river, where we kept our miserable vessel, with such paddles as could be split, and hewn with small hatchets. The second day we reached White River falls, and very narrowly escaped running over them. The raft went over and was lost; but our remaining strength enabled us to land, and march by the falls. At the foot of them Capt. Ogden, and the Ranger, killed some red squirrels, and a partridge, while I attempted to construct another raft. Not being able to cut the trees I burnt them down, and burnt them at proper lengths. This was our third day's work after leaving our companions. The next day we floated down to Wotoquichie falls, which are about fifty yards in length. Here we landed, and Capt. Ogden held the raft by a wythe of hazle bushes, while I went below the falls, to swim in, board and paddle it ashore; this being our only hope for life, as we had not strength sufficient to make a new raft, should this be lost. I succeeded in securing it, and the next morning we floated down within a short distance of Number Four. Here we found several men cutting timber, who relieved and assisted us to the fort. A canoe was immediately dispatched up the river with provisions, which reached them in Coos in four days after, which according to my agreement was the tenth after I left them. Two days after, I went up the river with two other canoes, to relieve others of my party who might be coming that way."
The leaders of the several parties besides Major Rogers, were Lieutenants Phillips, Campbell, Cargill, and Farrington, Ensign Avery, and Messrs Dunbar and Turner.
Lieut. Phillips brought his party in without the loss of a man. Phillips was a half blood, his mother being a Mowhawk Indian. He was commissioned by the Earl of Loudon as a Lieutenant, for his meritorious services, and throughout the "Seven Years War," did good service as a leader of the Rangers. His party suffered very severely from hunger and were reduced almost to the terrible alternative of starvation or eating human flesh. One of the prisoners taken at St. Francis was with this party, and they had determined to kill the prisoner the night following, and thus furnish themselves with the means of sustaining life. In the afternoon however, they killed a muskrat, which divided among the party, relieved them of the horrible alternative.
Sergeant Evans and his party, were not so fortunate. They wandered about in the woods for days, without food save the bark of the birch and other trees. At length they came across the mangled remains of some preceding party of their companions, and most of them took portions of them, for food! Evans' better feelings revolted at the idea of eating human flesh and he refused his portion. However, a night or two afterwards, he lay aside all scruples, and in the night appeased the gnawings of hunger, by eating a steak from human flesh, filched from the knapsack of a sleeping soldier! And pronounced it the "sweetest morsel he ever tasted!"
The party led by Lieut. George Campbell, suffered quite as severely.
"At one time they were four days without a morsel of food; they had wandered from the direct route and knew not whither they went. The weak in mind went mad from suffering and despair; the weak in body sank. They had already devoured their leather straps, and the covers of their cartouch boxes; no resources, and but a faint glimmering of hope remained. At length on the 28th of October, in crossing a small stream damned up with logs, they espied some human bodies scalped, and horribly mangled, probably the remains of their companions. Their furious hunger knew no restraint; they did not even wait for a fire to prepare their ghastly banquet, but ate like beasts of prey; then collecting carefully the remnants pursued their journey. A squirrel and a few roots helped to keep them alive till the 4th of November, when to their unutterable joy, they saw a boat on the Connecticut River, sent by Rogers to their relief. On the 7th they rejoined their companions."1
Benjamin Bradley of Rumford, (now Concord,) came in safe to the Amonoosuck river. After recruiting for a day or two, he and two or three others started for home. After their packs were slung, Bradley remarked, "In three days I'll be in my father's house." The party then started, and this was the last that was ever heard of them. They lost their way, wandered through the wilderness in the neighborhood of the White Mountains, and perished from hunger. Some time after, the bones of Bradley were found in that neighborhood, by certain hunters, from the Merrimack Valley, and identified by the hair and by the leather ribbon with which it was tied.
Robert Pomeroy of Derryfield, was killed by the Indians or perished in the woods on a scout during the Indian Wars. The tradition in the family at the present day is, that he was out with a man by the name of Bradley, of Concord, or its vicinity, on a scout, that he was killed or perished, and that his bones were found years after about the sources of the Merrimack, and were identified by his hair, and some personal effects that had not decayed. It is probable that Pomeroy was one of Bradley's companions in this retreat from St. Francis and that he shared his fate.
Amherst had been thus far successful, beyond expectation, but he had to encounter new elements. The enemy had retired to Isle aux Noix, in the Sorelle river, a little north of Lake Champlain. His way lay through the length of this lake, and upon it the French had a greater force. He immediately set about building rafts for heavy guns, and a sloop, in order to be able to meet the enemy. But these were not able to join the brig already built at Ticonderoga until the 10th of October. On the 11th the troops embarked for Isle aux Noix in batteaux preceded by armed vessels. Towards evening the next day, there came on boisterous weather, and the batteaux with the troops were forced to take refuge in a bay, and the men were landed. Captain Loring however kept down the lake in quest of the enemy, determined to bring them to action. Discovering a French schooner, he made chase, but ran two of his own vessels ashore. With difficulty they were got off, and then standing out into deeper water, Capt. Loring discovered three French sloops, crowding all sail; he soon gained upon them, and they ran one vessel on shore, sunk the two others, and then took to the woods. The storm continued till the 17th of October, and then Gen. Amherst again embarked his troops, but he had only made the bay where the French vessel had been seen on shore, when another gale arose, and the General and his troops were obliged to take refuge upon the shore. Winter had now nearly set in, and the English General completely foiled by the elements, wisely set his face for Crown Point, where he arrived on the 21st of October, and took up his quarters for the winter. Thus ended the expedition against Montreal, with but little credit to the British commander, or the regular troops. The actual service of the campaign, all as it were, of the skirmishing, and hard fighting, had been done by the Rangers, principally from New Hampshire.
The expedition against Niagara, entrusted to Gen. Prideaux, an officer of skill and judgment, was more successful. With a competent force of Regulars and Provincials, and a large body of Indians under Sir William Johnson, the second in command. Gen. Prideaux left his rendezvous at Schenectady on the 20th of May 1759. On the 7th of July he landed his force within six miles of Niagara and at once commenced his operations for investing the fortress. A peremptory demand was made upon M. Pouchot, the commander of the Fort for its surrender, which was as peremptorily refused. Prideaux then commenced erecting his batteries and soon opened a terrible fire upon the fortress.
The besieged fought stoutly in hopes of speedy relief and on the 11th made a sortie upon the English trenches, but were repulsed. On the 19th, Gen. Prideaux, while issuing orders in the trenches, was mortally wounded by the premature bursting of a shell fired from his own works. But the work went steadily on under Sir William Johnson. On the 23d, the reinforcement expected by the French garrison, approached under M. de Aubry. It consisted of 1200 men. Johnson had knowledge of its approach through his scouts, and made a most judicious disposition of his troops to meet the enemy. On the evening of the 23d, he pushed forward a reliable force into the woods on either side of the approach to the fort. Early on the morning of the 24th, he sent out a strong detachment of Grenadiers to strengthen his advance, while another detachment kept open his communication between his advance and the party in the trenches. About 9 o'clock De Aubry's force was formed, and a large body of Indians immediately rushed upon the British lines with terrific yells, but a few rounds from the Grenadiers, aimed with terible [terrible] effect, completely discomfitted them and they took shelter in the woods and did not again venture from their lurking places. De Aubry, then pushed forward his regulars, but only to meet sure destruction. He was soon overpowered by Johnson's fire and his troops broke and fled in utter rout. De Aubry, and many of his officers and a large number of his troops were taken prisoners, and many of them that escaped from the battle field, were pursued and taken or put to death by the Indians in the wilderness.
All hope being cut off, the gallant commander of Niagara capitulated and marched out of he [the] Fort with the honors of war.
Thus ended with complete success the expedition against Niagara, which passed into British power the control of the Western lakes.
The expedition against Quebec under the command of Gen. Wolfe, terminated in the most triumphal success. The squadron left England for Louisburg, about the middle of February 1759. It numbered twenty-two ships of the line, five frigates and nineteen smaller war vessels, besides a large number of transports. This fleet entered the harbor of Halifax about the last April. As soon after as the ice would permit, the fleet sailed to Louisburg, where the organization of the land forces was completed. Three companies of Rangers from New England, which had been left at Louisburg by Gen. Amherst, were added to Wolfe's command, as were also certain companies of the regular garrison, under the name of the Louisburg Grenadiers. Of the Rangers, there was a company from the neighborhood, under the command of Capt. William Stark of Derryfield. In this company was quite a number of soldiers from Derryfield.
The land forces all told amounted to a little less than 8000 men. On the 1st of June, the British forces began to weigh anchor, and on the 6th had entirely left the harbor of Louisburg. On the 26th of June the entire armament arrived off the Isle of Orleans, from whence a little south of west, the precipitous and embattled cliff of Quebec was to be seen some eighty miles in the distance. On the 27th the troops landed on the Island of Orleans without opposition, a company of Rangers the night previous, having driven the inhabitants from the Island in the utmost confusion.
Gen. Wolfe with an engineer, escorted by a detachment of Light Infantry pushed on to the point of the Island nearest Quebec, for the purpose of reconnoitring that position. The result was anything but favorable to that impetuous and gallant soldier. The enemy's entrenchments extended from the Montmorenci river, their extreme left flank, a distance of eight miles, to the citadel of Quebec, that stronghold forming their right flank. Every favorable position along this line was defended by works arranged under the eye of Montcalm, one of first soldiers of the time; while Quebec, with its cliffs, at every assailable point, above or below, was covered with batteries bristling with guns. To hold this position, strong by nature, and strengthened by science and art, Montcalm had a force of 12,000 French and Canadian troops. About midnight of the 28th, a fleet of five ships was sent down by the ebbing tide to destroy the English fleet at anchor off the Island. The ships were fired prematurely, and their conflagration had no other effect than to alarm the British land forces, while the gallant sailors of Admiral Saunders coolly took to their boats, and grappling to the burning ships, gently towed them past their fleet down the current. On the night of the 27th of June, Gen. Monckton with his brigade was sent against the enemy's position on Point Levi, across the St. Lawrence from Quebec, and only about a mile distant. After some delay the enemy were driven from their position on the morning of the 30th, and Monckton forthwith proceeded to erect batteries, and plant mortars and cannon. From them hot shot and shells were thrown, and the lower town of Quebec was destroyed, and the upper town considerably injured. But no advantage had been gained. On the ninth of July, Wolfe crossed the north channel and encamped on the east bank of the Montmorenci, which was higher than the position occupied by Montcalm. Still the river Montmorenci was betwixt him and the enemy.
The British General became impatient, and on the 18th reconnoitered the shore, from the Montmorenci, above the citadel, in quest of some point of attack, but found one favorable. Meantime on the night of the 28th of July, the enemy again attempted the destruction of his fleet, by means of fire rafts, but the attempt was a failure. Wolfe could no longer brook delay and he determined upon an engagement. His plan was to ford the Montmorenci at ebb tide, near its junction with the St. Lawrence, at the head of two Brigades, while Monckton should cross the St. Lawrence from Point Levi, in boats to attack the enemy's entrenchments. The signal was given, the parties took to the river, the boats vied with each other, shot and shell filled the air, a portion of the boats struck a reef and were destroyed, Wolfe found a landing place, the Grenadiers and Royal Americans leaped on shore; filled with excitement and over confident, they pushed on without forming and waiting for orders, the enemy met them with a determined fire, and they were driven back with disorder. The attack was a failure. The rashness of the Grenadiers had lost all. Monckton's troops landed and formed with the coolness of a parade, but the Grenadiers could not be again formed, and Wolfe had the good sense to make a timely retreat.
This unfortunate attempt lost him four hundred lives. At length, worn by fatigue and harrassed by anxiety, Wolfe was prostrated by fever. But on a bed of sickness and pain, he planned attacks upon the enemy's works. These plans were rejected by his generals, and they advised the landing of a large force above the town, and thus bring Montcalm to an open action. Wolfe acceded to their advice, and as soon as he was able to leave his bed, proceeded to carry the plan into execution. He immediately commenced a personal reconnoisance, of the north shore above Quebec. This was conducted with the closes scrutiny, and the General was so fortunate as to discover a narrow and circuitous path leading up the cliff from a small cove in the river below. His ready eye at once saw from the number of tents at the top, that the path could not be guarded by more than 100 men. At this place now known as Wolfe's cove, he determined to land his force, and reach the table land above, by this narrow path.
This table land reaching some eight or nine miles from the batteries, and betwixt the top of the path and the defences, comparatively level, was known then as now, as the "Plains of Abraham". Here Wolfe determined to decide the fate of Canada. To deceive the enemy, the heavier ships of the fleet anchored near the shore opposite Beauport, as if to cover an attack upon the enemy's lines at that place. Meanwhile all were actively engaged in the British camp. Every officer knew his appointed duty, and every soldier knew that there was serious work to be done, still the object of the expedition was a profound secret, confided to the principal officers alone. At length his last circuit made, and his last orders issued, Wolfe, about one o'clock in the morning of the 13th of September, accompanied by Monckton and Murray with 1600 men, embarked on board their boats, and fell down the river with the tide. Wolfe led the way, beguiling the time in reading "Gray's Elegy in a Country Churchyard," and at the selected spot, leaped on shore followed by the troops with him. A portion of the Highlanders were carried by the force of the current, some rods below the pathway, they landed however, and rushing up the pathless precipice, supporting themselves by the bushes, fired upon the picket guarding the height and dispersed them. The rest of the party ascended by the pathway. As soon as the boats had discharged the first detachment, they returned for the remainder of the troops, and under the cover of the fleet, anchored opposite the place of landing, the entire force was disembarked, and the earliest dawn found Wolfe and his adventurous battalions on the "Plains of Abraham".
Montcalm could hardly credit his senses, the surprise was so complete. However his determination was taken at once. Upon receiving conclusive information, he replied, "We must give battle, and crush them before midday." If his troops had been equally determined and confident, history might have told another story than defeat. Before ten, the armies were fronting each other marshaled for the fight. Montcalm waited for a time for a reinforcement of 1500 men, that he had ordered up under De Vandreuil, but messenger after messenger failed to bring it. Treachery had followed ill blood. Meantime a brisk cannonade was kept up on both sides with the field pieces on the field, and the French commander attempted to flank the British line, and force them down the declivity, but the movement was promptly counteracted by Wolfe. At length Montcalm led his forces on to the attack, but with such impetuosity, that impeded somewhat by the uneveness of the ground, his columns broke and gave their fire in a desultory and defective manner. Wolfe ordered his men to stand their ground, and not fire a gun till the enemy were within forty yards; he was obeyed to the letter. They stood the attack with the utmost coolness, and when the enemy's rank had come within that distance, at Wolfe's command of "Fire," they opened upon them a regular rapid and effective discharge of musketry. Discharge followed discharge in quick succession, literally mowing down officers and men. The Canadians wavered, and Wolfe heading a charge, drove them in confusion across the field.
While leading this charge, Wolfe received a wound in the wrist, but he hesitated not and urged on his men; a second shot struck him in the body, but no one knew of the mishap; still pressing onward, a ball from the redoubt struck him in the breast, he faltered, and said to an officer near him, "support me, let not my brave followers see me fall," and he was carried to the rear mortally wounded. But the battle was won, and the French soldiers gave way in every direction. "They run, they run," said the officer who supported him. "Who run? asked Wolfe with animation. "The French give way every where,' replied the officer. "Go, one of you to Col. Burton," said Wolfe, "tell him to march Welch's regiment down to the St. Charles river, and cut off their retreat."
This was his last order, his voice grew faint in giving it, and he added as he turned to find an easier position, "Now God be praised, I die happy." His eyes closed, his body was slightly convulsed, and the Hero of the "Plains of Abraham", passed to immortality.
The fate of New France was decided. Montcalm was mortally wounded. When told that he could not live, "more than ten or twelve hours, perhaps less," the gallant officer replied, "So much the better, I shall not live to see the surrender of Quebec." He refused further attendance to business, saying "I shall pass the night with God, and prepare myself for death." The following morning at five, he expired.
On the 14th of September, Gen. Townsend upon whom the command of the British army now devolved, pushed foward [forward] the works against the city. At a council of war, but one solitary captain of Artillery, among all the French officers, was found to favor further defence of the fated city, and on the 8th day of September, De Ramsey the commander of the garrison "Surrendered the City of Quebec".
The Fench [French] rallied the following spring and De Levi left Montreal in April with a showy force to retake Quebec. Arriving within a few miles of the city, on the 27th day of April, 1760, with 10,000 men, De Levi forced Gen. Murray's advance to retreat. The next morning De Levi advanced within three miles of Quebec and halted. There Gen. Murray unfortunately determined to give him battle, although his disposable force amounted to no more than 3000, not a third of the number of his enemy. With Murray, to determine, was to act. He led his troops to the onset on the morning of the 28th and for his rash valor, was most ingloriously forced to retreat within the walls of the city, after an obstinate battle, in which he had 700 men wounded, and left 300 dead upon the field! The French commander, then invested the city in form, but on the 17th of May, a British fleet having arrived in the river under Admiral Swainton, and destroyed the French vessels, De Levi at once raised the siege, and made a precipitate and inglorious retreat, abandoning to the enemy, his guns, ammunition, intrenching tools, stores, and provisions.
Gen. Amherst made most formidable preparations for the approaching campaign in the winter of 1760. He determined to approach Montreal by three routes. Gen Murray was to move up the St. Lawrence, Col. Haviland was to approach by the way of the Sorelle, while Gen. Amherst himself was to pass across to Lake Ontario, and approach Montreal from that direction, by the way of St. Lawrence. The Provinces were called upon for troops, and New Hampshire furnished a regiment of 800 men, under command of Col. John Goffe. This regiment had their rendezvous at Litchfield. These troops, brave and fearless as they were, yet had been subject to little military restraint, and in dress must have made rather a grotesque appearance, judging from the fact, that Col. Goffe was under the necessity of issuing an order from which is taken the following extract.
"Collo. Goffe Reccommends it to the officers, to examine the state of the men's shirts, shoes and stockings, and further acquaint them, that they are to be answerable that the men shirt twice ever week at least, that such as have hare that will admit of it, must have it constantly Tyd, they must be obliged to comb their hair and wash their hands every morning, and as its observed a Number of the men acustom themselves to ware wollen night Caps in the Day time, he allows them hats. They are ordered for the future not to be seen in the Day time with anything Besides their hats on their heads, as ye above mentioned Custom of wearing night Caps must be Detremental to their health and Cleanliness, the men's hats to be all cockt or cut uniformly as Collo. Goffe, pleases to direct."
The men, dressed in coats, long and short, homespun and of various colors, their hair long and flowing, or tied in a queue, and surmounted by woolen night caps of every hue, must have been fair subjects of criticism to military men, and we can readily forgive Dr. Shackburg, for exercising his musical talents at the expense of the Provincal soldiers of the "Seven Years War," particularly when they did the most of the fighting in that war, and the humor of the witty Doctor furnished us with our popular and national air.2
Col. Goffe marched his regiment up the Souhegan, through Amherst, Monson, (now Milford,) "No II," (now Wilton,) over the Pack Monadnock to Peterborough; then up the Contoocook, through "Monadnock No. I," (now Dublin,) and down the Ashuelot, through Monadnock No. V, (now Marlborough) to Keene. From there they marched up the Connecticut to "No. IV," (now Charlestown). From Monson to Keene, was mostly a wilderness, and this distance the regiment cut a road for the transportation of their baggage and provisions. From the Connecticut River, above Number Four, they also cut a road across the mountains, until it met the one cut by Capt. Stark the year previous. This was called Goffe's Road. The Regiment arrived at the Lake in season, and was attached to the army under Col. Haviland, which proceeded down Lake Champlain and the Sorelle to Montreal. Gen. Amherst had already marched with a strong force by the way of Lake Ontario, and the St. Lawrence. On the 11th of August, the army under Col. Haviland embarked and proceeded down the Lake. On the 20th he arrived opposite the French Fort at Isle aux Noix, and in the forenoon, Col. Darly landed with a body of Infantry Grenadiers and Rangers to invest the Fort. The Rangers were in advance, and took possession of the ground over against the Fort. The next day batteries were erected and shot and shell were thrown into the Fort. On the 24th Col. Darly proposed to destroy the enemy's shipping, and four companies of Rangers under Major Rogers, two of Regulars and some Indians, were detached for this purpose. They dragged two howitzers, and a sixpounder through the woods, and so silently, that a discharge of shot and shell was the first intimation the astonished sailors had of an expedition against them. At the first discharge a shot "cut the cable of the great Rideau," and becoming unmanageable, she floated over to the eastern shore. The other vessels then weighed anchor, and made for St. Johns, but two of them grounded in rounding a point about two miles from the Fort. Major Rogers immediately passed down the east shore with a party of the Rangers and commenced a sharp fire upon the grounded vessels, while some of his men with hatchets in their teeth swam to the nearest of them, and leaping on board drove the astonished crew down the hatchway or into the water. Meantime Col. Darly had taken possession of the Rideau and manned her, and now came up, and took the other; and soon after took a third. The night following, the enemy thinking their position no longer tenable, abandoned their Fort, leaving their sick and wounded, in their great haste to gain the main land. M. de Bougainville the commander of the garrison, retreated down the Lake to St. John's, and firing that place continued his flight towards Montreal. On the 28th Col. Haviland ordered Major Rogers to follow the French as far as St. John's and there wait until his arrival. Rogers with his whole force of 600 Rangers and two companies of Indians, started in pursuit that night and arrived at St. John's at the break of day, the town then being on fire. Learning from some prisoners that the Bougainville left that place only the preceding evening, and that he would encamp half way on the road to Montreal, Rogers could not forego the chance for a fight,--disobeyed his orders, left 200 of his Rangers to take care of his boats and baggage and with the remainder of his forces by 8 o'clock was in hot pursuit of Bougainville and his army, now amounting to 1500 French and 100 Indians. Rogers pursued them with so much diligence, that he overtook, attacked and broke their read guard before they reached their encamping ground. He then pursued on after the main body of the army, which did not stop to encamp, or even make a stand against their pursuers, but crossing the river in hot haste, broke down the bridge, and did not consider themselves safe until they were within the breastworks previously built for their reception.
Rogers not being able to cross the river, contented himself with encamping upon the bank, and waiting the arrival of Col. Haviland. Meeting with no farther opposition, the force under Haviland, arrived on the Island of Montreal on the 8th day of September, when he joined Gen. Amherst, who had arrived with his army two days previous and had occupied the Island.
Gen. Amherst with an army near 11000 strong, arrived at La Galette, on the St. Lawrence from Ontario, the 13th of August. They then passed down the river to Isle Royal, where was a French fort called Fort Levi. This was invested on the 20th, and on the 23d it was determined to storm the fort. A brisk cannonade then commenced, which was returned with spirit from the fort, when the storming parties were delayed to another day. Meantime the French commander surrendered on the 24th at discretion, and the fort was destroyed. Amherst met with no other opposition, and landed his army on the 6th of September, on the island of Montreal, nine miles from the city.
Meantime on the 2d of September, Col. Haviland detached Major Rogers with a competent force of Rangers, to open a communication with Gen. Murray, who was advancing up the river from Quebec. He fell in with Gen. Murray's camp a few miles below Montreal, and reported to him. Gen. Murray had left Quebec on the 14th of June, and his voyage up the St. Lawrence had been met with continuous opposition, not however such as to materially retard his progress,--and he arrived opposite Sorel on the 12th of August. Here he had waited a reinforcement while the 27th; then he had again sailed up the river, and on the 6th of September, had encamped on the shore of the St. Lawrence. On the next day hearing of the arrival of the other forces, through Major Rogers, Gen. Murray at once sailed up the river, disembarked his forces, and on the 8th encamped to the northeest [northeast] of the city. Thus these three expeditions arrived at their point of destination within two days of each other, and presented a combined force of 16,000 men before the walls of Montreal, on the 8th of September. On the same day the Marquis of Vaudreuil signed the articles of a capitulaiion [capitulation], and the French power was at an end in New France.
On the day following the capitulation, Gen. Amherst gave orders to Major Rogers to proceed with 200 Rangers and take possession of the French forts in the west as far as Michilimackinac. On the 13th of September, Rogers embarked at Montreal on this hazardous duty having Lieut. Brheme of the Engineers and Lieut. Davis of the Royal Artillery, in company. The detachment performed this service in whale boats, and reconnoitred all the points of interest up the St. Lawrence and through lakes Ontario, Erie, St. Clair to Huron. On the shore of Lake Erie, Major Rogers met with various tribes of Indians, and smoked the calumut with the far-famed warrior Pontiac. This chief refused permission at first for the party to pass through his country, and treated Rogers with the haughtiness of an Emperor whose territory had been invaded. At the second interview, however, he was very complaisant and smoked the calumut and furnished Rogers with an escort of warriors.
On the 29th of November, Rogers and his party came within a few miles of Detroit, and sent a flag to the commander of the Fort informing him of the capitulation. On the 30th he landed his party within a half a mile of the Fort, and immediately formed in front of it. Upon this Capt. Beleter the commander, sent an officer to Major Rogers informing him that the garrison was at his command. Possession was immediately taken of the Fort and the French colors taken down, and the British flag run up in its place,--amid the shouts of a large number of Indians who were looking to witness the result of the unlooked for visit. At the entrance of Lake Huron, Major Rogers, who was proceeding to Michilimackinac with Lieut. McCormick and 37 men, found ice making in the Lake. This was on the 12th of December. He proceeded up the Lake for 100 miles, when the passage of the boats became so obstructed by the ice, that he was forced reluctantly to abandon the expedition and return to Detroit. Leaving Capt. Campbell in command at Detroit, on the 23d of December, Major Rogers and his party started down the Lake for Pittsburg, where thery [they] arrived Jan. 23d, 1961. Hence, Lieut McCormick marched to Albany with the Rangers, while Rogers proceeded over the mountains to Philadelphia and thence to New York, where on the 14th of February, he reported to Gen. Amherst the proceedings of the first English expedition to Detroit.
It was no small credit to old Amoskeag, that the Commander in this important expedition and many of his party, should have been from among her sons. But through the entire "Seven Years War," she received repeated distinctions of the kind, and it is not assuming too much to say, that during that war, and the Indian war proceeding it, she furnished more fighting officers, and fighting men, than any other place or territory of equal extent in New England.
Footnotes
1Wa.burton's Conquest of Canada, Vol. II. p. 157. Return
2Dr. Shackburg, a surgeon in the British regular army, wrote "Yankee Doodle," in 1755, after witnessing the grotesque dress of the New England troops as they arrived at Albany, the head quarters of the army. The Yankees wanted "a tune to march by," and he humorously complied with their wishes, and furnished, "Yankee Doodle," as a burlesque. It afforded infinite amusement to the wits of the British army, and it is possible that some of them might have lived to have heard its stirring notes twenty years after, at Bunker's Hill or to have marched after it when Cornwallis surrendered at Yorktown. Return
Chapter 16