MASSACRE AT FORT WILLIAM HENRY. 163 CHAPTER VI. Campaigns of 1757 and 1758. P'D. III. 1757. 1. THUS in the campaign of 1756, little was done. P'T. II. That of 1757 is only memorable in our annals, for the dreadful massacre at Fort William Henry. Mont- CH. VI. calm, the French commander, had early concentrated his forces, amounting to nine thousand regulars, Cana- Montdians and Indians, on the shores of the Champlain, at calm be sieges Ft. Ticonderoga. Passing up Lake George, he laid siege Wm. to Fort William Henry, which was commanded by Henry. Colonel Monroe, a British officer. General Webb was at the time, lying at Fort Edward, with the main British army, four or five thousand strong 2. Monroe, being vigorously pressed, while he defended himself with spirit, earnestly entreated General Webb for aid. But he entreated in vain, and necessity Aug. 2. compelled him, on the 2d of August, to surrender. Monroe capituBy the articles of capitulation, Montcalm engaged that lates. the English should be allowed to leave the fort with the honors of war; and, in order to protect them from the Indians, that an escort should be provided to conduct them to Fort Edward. 3. But the Indians who served for plunder, attacked the British in the camp; and the French commander Aug. 3, either could not, or would not, protect them. They The mas rushed forth, and were pursued. They threw all their sacre. money and clothes to the Indians. Not satisfied, the savages pursued them, naked and flying, with tomahawk and scalping knife. A few reached the camp of Webb, and some were found bleeding in the woods. But of these, many in their agony, had lost their reason. CHAPTER VI.-1. For what is the campaign of 1757 memorable? Give an account of Montcalm, and his army. What was the condition of the British forces, and who were commanders? 2. What was the situation and conduct of Monroe? What of Webb? What was stipulated by Montcalm?-3. Did he keep his engagement? Mention some of the circumstances of the massacre. 164 PITT AND WOLFE. P'T. II. 4. The manner in which the war had been conductP'D. III. ed, dissatisfied the people both of England and America;' CH. VI. and brought forward as prime minister, the greatest The elder Wm. Pitt. statesman of the British annals, WILLIAM PITT, afterwards Earl of Chatham. So powerful was his eloquence and so austere his patriotism, that he controlled at length, the energies of the government, and the spirit of the people., 5. In a circular letter, which he addressed to the governors of the provinces, he promised them, that an effectual force should be sent against the French, and 1758. he exhorted them to use their utmost exertions to raise Pitt calls men in their respective colonies. Animated by this colonies. call, the colonists renewed their efforts, and increased on the their army to twenty thousand. A large force was An army also sent from England; so that there was now on foot, of 50,000 in Ame- an army far greater than had ever before existed in rica. America. These troops, amounting in all, to fifty thousand men, were in readiness for action early in the spring. Three expeditions were resolved on, against Louisburg, Crown Point, and Fort du Quesne. July 6. 6. A regular siege, the best conducted of any which Louisburg sur- had ever been laid in America, placed, on the 6th of renders. July, the fortress of Louisburg, again in the hands of the British. It was by gallant conduct during this prisoners siege, that JAMES WOLFE began his career of military sent renown. With Louisburg, the whole island of Cape the At- Breton, and that of St. John's, fell under the power of lantic. the British 6,000 across 7. General Abercrombie, at the head of sixteen thousand men, proceeded against Ticonderoga and Crown Point. He crossed Lake George, and debarkJuly 6. ing at its northern extremity, he attempted, with unAber skilful guides, to pass the three miles of dense woods, proceeds which lay between his army and Ticonderoga. As he against approached that fort, a detachment of the French fell crombie 4. What was the state of the public mind in regard to the war? What statesman was brought forward? What was his character?-5. What circular did he send to America? What was done in consequence? What was the number of the army? What expeditions were resolved on?-6. How did the attack on Louisburg succeed? What can you say of James Wolfe ? 7. Describe the movements of General Abercrombie. FRONTENAC AND DU QUESNE TAKEN. 165 upon him, and an engagement ensued, in which the PT. II. assailants lost three hundred men, and among others, P'D. III. the amiable Lord Howe. CH. VI. The Bri 8. Abercrombie, learning that reinforcements were daily expected by the French, without waiting for his artillery, made a brave but imprudent assault upon the tish lose fort, and was repulsed with the heavy loss of nearly 2,000. two thousand, killed and wounded. He then retired to his former quarters, on the south side of Lake George. Brad 9. Here he consented, at the solicitation of Colonel Bradstreet, to detach him with three thousand men, against Fort Frontenac. With these troops, who were Aug. 27, mostly provincials, he marched to Oswego, embarked Colonel' on Lake Ontario, and landed on the 25th of August, street within a mile of the fort, and in two days forced the takes Ft. important fortress of Frontenac, to surrender. As this fort, afterwards named Kingston, contained the military stores which were intended for the Indians, and for the supply of the south-western troops, its destruction contributed to the success of the expedition against Fort du Quesne. Fronte nac. Forbes makes a new road by Ray's town. 10. To General Forbes, with eight thousand men, was assigned the capture of Fort du Quesne. He com- General mitted a great error. Against the expostulations and entreaties of Washington, he made a new road by Raystown, instead of taking that already made by Cumberland. The consequence of this was, that it was so late before the army arrived near du Quesne, that the men suffered incredible hardships. The fort was, however, reached, and found deserted. General Ft. du Forbes died, on his return, in consequence of fatigue Quesne and exposure. The fort was repaired, and named Fort Pitt. The neighboring Indians were now glad to make peace. 7. What was the fate of Lord Howe?-8. What was the result of Abercrombie's operations? 9. What detachment was sent out? Trace and describe Bradstreet's route. What did he effect? 10. What army had General Forbes ? What was his destination? What error did he commit? What was the consequence? What can you say respecting the fort? What respecting General Forbes? What of the Indians? named Ft. Pitt 166 PITT'S GREAT PLAN. P'D. III. 1759. CHAPTER VII. The Campaign of 1759. PT. II. 1. THE successes of the preceding campaign emboldened Mr. Pitt, to form for this, the great design of dispossessing the French of their American territory. The campaign of 1759, had for its object, nothing less than the entire reduction of Canada. The army was plan em- divided into three parts. The first division, under three Wolfe, was to make a direct attempt upon Quebec. objects. The second, under Amherst, was ordered to take Ti Pitt's braces killed in conderoga and Crown Point, and then proceed northerly; and the third, under Prideaux, consisting of provincials and Indians, was to reduce Niagara, then to go down the St. Lawrence, and, with the second detachment, conquer Montreal; then join, and aid Wolfe, at Quebec. 2. Prideaux besieged Niagara on the 6th of July. July 6. He was killed by the bursting of a shell, and the Prideaux command devolved upon Sir William Johnson, who besieging took the fort with six hundred prisoners. All comNiagara, munication between the northern and southern possessions of the French was thus barred, and the quiet behaviour of the Indians secured. Pitt sustains 3. Pitt had discerned the extraordinary qualities of Wolfe. Wolfe, while he was yet obscure, and to him he now confided the command against Quebec. His subordiProvides nate officers were carefully chosen. He was provided choice with a choice army of eight thousand men, and a army. heavy train of artillery. him a June. He lands 4. His army debarked, late in June, upon the Island on the of Orleans. Here Wolfe reconnoitered the position Orleans. of his enemy, and saw the difficulties which surround Isle of CHAPTER VII.-1. What bold design had Mr. Pitt formed? How was the army divided, and what was each division expected to do? 2. What was the fate of General Prideaux? Who effected his part of the great plan?-3. What preparations did Pitt make to ensure Wolfe's success?-4. Where did Wolfe's army debark? WOLFE'S POSITION AND EFFORTS. 167 ed him. Quebec rose before him, upon the north side P'T. II. of the St. Lawrence. Its upper town and strong forti- P'D. III. fications, were situated on a rock, whose bold and CH. VII. steep front continued far westward, parallel with the river, and presented a wall, which it seemed impossible to scale. Difficul 5. From the north-west came down the river St. Charles; entering the St. Lawrence just below the town, its banks high and uneven, and cut by deep ravines. Armed vessels were borne upon its waters, ties of his and floating batteries obstructed its entrance. A few position. miles below, the Montmorenci leapt down its cataract into the St. Lawrence. Strongly posted along the sloping bank of that majestic river, and between its two tributaries, the French army, commanded by Montcalm, displayed its formidable lines. 6. Wolfe took possession of Point Levi, erected and opened heavy batteries, which swept the lower town; but the fortifications of Quebec remained uninjured. July 9. He attacks 7. The English general next landed his army below the Montmorenci; but Montcalm would not leave his entrenchments. Wolfe then crossed the stream, and Montattacked him in his camp. But he was obliged to retire, with the loss of four hundred of his men. then recrossed the Montmorenci. calm near He Montmo renci. 8. Here he was informed that his expected succors were likely to fail. Amherst had found Ticonderoga and Crown Point vacated, and was preparing to attack French the French forces, on the Isle aux Noix. Prideaux at Monhaving lost his life, his plans were carried out by Sir treal stop William Johnson. But the enemy were in full force at Montreal; and from neither division of the British army, could the commander at Quebec, now hope for any assistance. 9. Wolfe was severely tried. His mind was unbroken, but his bodily health, for a time, failed. -- 4. What was the appearance of Quebec from this place? 5. Where was the French army posted?-6. From what place did Wolfe open batteries upon Quebec? With what effect?. Where did Wolfe attack Montcalm? What was he forced to do? -8. What intelligence did he now obtain ?-9. How did it affect him? his suc cors. |