another long, and very narrow streight with Lake Champlain. This streight is secured at each side by a fort; that to the side of Lake George is called Ticonderoga; that to the Champlain Lake is called Fort Frederick, or Crown Point; both extremely strong in their situation; and the former of which had repulsed our troops with very considerable slaughter, as has been related amongst the events of last year: Amherst, after he had passed Lake George, arrived with very little opposition from the enemy before Ticonderoga; at first the French made some appearance, as if they meant to defend the place; but as they knew the strength of our forces, as they saw that the preparations for the attack was making with as much judgment as vigour, and as the enterprize which was preparing against Quebec did not leave them a force so considerable as they had there in the preceding campaign, they abandoned their fort in the night, having damaged it as much as they July 7. could, and retired to Crown

Point.

General Amherst immediately set himself about repairing the fortifications of this post, which effectu ally secured the Lake George; covered our colonies, and was of such vast importance to enable him to push forward his offensive operations, or to favour his retreat in case of a reverse of fortune. The only loss of any consequence which the English army suffered, in making this valuable acquisition, was the death of Colonel Townshend, who was killed in reconnoitring, by a shot from the fort. The steady bravery, the promising genius, and the agreeable manners of this of

ficer, caused his loss to be considered as a very great one. They compared this melancholy event with the death of Lord Howe; they remembered how much these young soldiers resembled each other, both in their virtues, and in the circumstances of their fate. Both dear to the troops, and having both lost their lives on an expedition against this place.

Although the general had reason to imagine, that the same reasons which had induced the enemy to abandon their forts and their lines at Ticonderoga, would persuade them also to relinquish Crown Point; he took all his measures with the same care, as if he expected an obstinate defence at the fort, and attempt to surprize him on his march. He remembered how fatal security had proved to us in that part of the world upon many occasions.

The French abandoned the fort as it had been foreseen. The general retired with about three thousand five hundred men to the bottom of Lake Champlain, and posted himself at the island called Isle du Noix. He was still pretty strong on the lake, having several armed boats and sloops, with which he hoped to prevent the progress of the English into the interior parts of Canada. Amherst, as soon as he had taken possession of

"

Crown Point, used every Aug. 14.

endeavour to attain a naval superiority on the lake, and in the mean time began to fortify this post as he had that at Ticonderoga. To this time the French were actually established in the heart of our territories; so that during a war of three years, we had in effect been only acting on the defensive. It was on the day on which Mr. Amherst took

possession

possession of Crown Point, that he received the agreeable news of the reduction of Niagara by the troops under Sir William Johnson; and he had the pleasure and encouragement of seeing two of the great objects of the campaign accomplished, whilst he prepared himself to cooperate in the accomplishment of the third, which was to be decisive of the whole. The body which had been appointed for Niagara under General Prideau, without any accident, arrived at the fort, which lies at the bottom of the lake towards the south-west.

This is, without exception, the most important post in America, and secures the greatest number of communications. For it is situated at the very entrance of a streight, by which the Lake Ontario is joined to that of Erie, which is connected with the other three great seas of fresh water, by the course of the vast river St. Lawrence, which runs through them all, and carries off their superfluous waters to the ocean. A little above the fort is the cataract of Niagara, which is esteemed the most remarkable in the world, for the quantity of water, and the greatness of the fall. This fall would interrupt the commerce between the lakes, but for a road which the French have made up the hilly country that lies by the streight; so that there is here a good carrying-place, and not very tedious; for, after a portage of about eight miles, you re-imbark, and proceed, without any interruption, to the Lake Erie..

As the great communication of those who go by water is along this streight, and carrying place, so those who travel by land are obliged to, cross it. The lakes are so dispo

sed, that without a somewhat hazarą dous voyage, the Indians cannot any otherwise pass from the north-west to the south-east parts of North America for many hundred miles.

The fort of Niagara thus naturally commands all the Five Nations, and

all those Indian tribes that lie to the northward of the lakes, as well as those that are scattered along the banks of the Ohio, Ouabache and Missisippi, and, acccording as it is possessed by the English or the French, connects or disjoints the colonies of Canada and Louisiana, protects or lays open our own, and is in all respects of so much consequence, that it was the opinion of persons the most conversant in Ame◄ rican business, that this attempt ought to have been made much earlier; and that if such an attempt made at such a time had succeeded, it would have contributed very much to the security of those parts of our colonies which were the most exposed, and would have at the same time greatly facilitated all our offensive measures, and shortened the war.

From the time that the French were acquainted with this place, they were fully possessed with an opinion of its importance, both with regard to commerce and to dominion, They made several attempts to establish themselves here; but the Ins dians, who seemed more sensible of the consequences than we were, constantly opposed it. They obliged them to relinquish a fort, which they had built, and guarded this spot for a long time with a very severe and prudent jealousy.

But whilst we neglected, confid ing in our strength, to cultivate the Indians, and the French, sensible of their weakness, omitted no endea vour to gain these savage people to

their

their interests, and they prevailed at last, under the name of a trading house, to erect a strong fort at the mouth of the streight, on the very best harbour, not only on this but on any of the lakes; an harbour which is safe from every wind, and open for the whole year. A French officer, an able and enterprising man, had been a prisoner among the Iroquois for a long time, and having, according to their custom, been naturalised, he grew extremely popular amongst them, and at last acquired his liberty. He communicated to the then governor of Canada, the plan of an establishment at Niagara, and he himself undertook to execute it. He returned amongst the Iroquois, and pretending great love for their nation, which was now his own, told them that he would gladly come to make frequent visits to his brethren; but it was proper for that purpose, that they should allow him to build an house, where he might live at ease, and according to his own manner at the same time he proposed to them advantages in trade from this establishment. A request which seemed a compliment to those to whom it was made, was readily granted. The house was built. By degrees this house extended itself; it was strengthened by various additions; and it grew at last to a regular fortress, which has ever since awed the Five Nations, and checked our colonies.

July 20. The siege of this place had not been long formed before General Prideaux was killed in the trenches by the bursting of a cohorn. As soon as this accident happened, which threatened to throw a damp on the operations, an express was sent to General AmVOL II.

herst, who always attentive to the service, lost, no time to send an officer of character to command in his place. But the command which in the interim devolved upon Sir William Johnson, could not have been better bestowed. He omitted nothing to continue the vigorous measures of the late general, and added to them every thing his own genius could suggest. Respected by the regular troops, dear to the provincials, almost adored by the Indians, possessed of that genius for acquiring popularity amongst all kinds of men, and that versatile disposition, which we so seldom see united with disinterestedness and integrity, he employed those talents solely for the benefit of his country. The troops remembering that it was under that general, the first advantage had been obtained over the French, pushed on the siege with so much alacrity, that in a few days they had brought their approaches within an hundred yards of the covered way.

The French were alarmed at the imminent danger of this interesting place. They therefore collected all the regular troops and provincials, which they could draw from all their posts about the lakes, and to those joined a large body of savages, in order to give the English battle, and to raise the siege. They amounted in all to 1700 men.

When General Johnson was apprized of their approach, he ordered his light infantry, supported by some grenadiers and regular foot, to take post on the road to his left, by which the French were to take their route. He placed his Indians on his flanks. Whilst he took mea sures to receive the French, who came to relieve the place, he posted D a strong

a strong body in such a manner as to secure his trenches from any attempt of the garrison during an engagement. In this disposition he waited Juty 1. to receive the enemy. At nine in the morning the engagement began by a violent and horrid scream of the enemies savages, according to their barbarous custom. It was this scream, perhaps the most horrid sound that can be imagined, which is said to have struck a panick into the troops of General Braddock, and was one of the principal causes. of that defect, by which our endeavours in America were so long frustrated; but on this occasion it had no effect. The enemy was so well received by the troops in front, and by the Indians on their flanks, that in less than an hour's time their whole army was ruined. The pursuit was hot and bloody; and it continued for five miles. Seventeen officers were made prisoners, among whom were the first and second in command. This action was fought July 25. in sight of the fort; and it was no sooner concluded in favour of our troops, than the general summoned the garrison to surrender; sending in a list of the prisoners, and remonstrating on the

ill effects of their holding out. longer, particularly with regard to the Indiaus. The capitulation was signed that night. The garrison, consisting of about 600 men, surrendered prisoners of war, and were conducted to New York. The fort and stores were given up to the English troops.

This was the second very important service performed by Ge-neral Johnson in this war, and a second time he had the good fortune to make the commander in chief of the enemy his prisoner. It must not be omitted to the honour of this gentleman, that though he was not regularly bred a soldier, the most compleat officer could not have made more excellent dispositions for the battle, or have conducted the siege from the beginning to the end, with a more cool and steady resolution, or with a more compleat knowledge of all the necessary mancuvres of war. The taking of Niagara broke off effectually that communication so much talked of and so much dreaded, between Canada and Louisiana, and by this stroke,. one of the capital political designs of the French, which gave occasion to the present war, was defeated in its direct and immediate object.

CHAP.

THE

HE consequences which at tended the reduction of the fort of Niagara, as well as those upon Lake Champlain, were very interesting; but the great and central operation to which all the rest tended, and to which even those were to be only subservient, was that against Quebec, the capital of Canada; and as this was to be the decisive stroke, it was proper that the greatest force should have been employed against it. If we reckon the maritime force, there is no doubt that we employed a greater number of men against Quebec, than against the Champlain forts; but the land forces, from some cause, fell much short of the number originally proposed, for they did not exceed 7000 men, regulars and provincials, though the original plan intended 9000 for that expedition, independent of the junction of those under General Amherst, whose assistance on the occasion was taken for granted. In this expedition General Wolfe commanded the land forces. The fleet was under Admiral Saunders.

The whole embarkation 26th. arrived in the latter end of June at the Isle of Orleans, a few leagues from Quebec, without any accident whatsoever, notwithstand ing the ill fame of the river St: Laurence, and the reports of its

dangerous navigation, probably spread for political purposes. They landed upon the Isle of Orleans, which is formed by the branches of the river St. Laurence. This island is about twenty miles in length, and seven or eight in breadth, highly cultivated, and affording every kind of refreshment to the soldiers and sailors after their tedious voyage.

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As this island extends quite up to the bason of Quebec, it was necessary to possess it in order to act against the town; for the most westerly point of this island advances towards an high point of land on the continent, called Point Levi. Both of these shut up the view of the northern and southern channel, which environ the Isle of Orleans, so that the harbour of Quebec appears to be a bason landlocked upon all sides. The possession of both these points were necessary, as they might be employed either with great advantage against the town, or much to the annoyance of the besiegers; for whilst the enemy continued masters of those, it was impossible for a ship to lie in the harbour of Quebec. When these posts were possessed, which was done with little difficulty, the harbour and town of Quebec appeared full to the view, at once a tempting and a discouraging sight.

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