Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1825-10-29
BLOODY POND.

DlsOoDt TOND.
The following extract from letter
of one Of the editors of the Georgian,
contains brief but accurate history of
the name Of one Of the Ponds (or small
Lakes which lie in the vicinity of Lake
George. 1t is only in passing over
these grounds that one can receive a
due impression Of the severe conflicts
which the mountains and lakes have
witnessed within the last eighty years,
or of the horrors and heroism by which
those bloody wars were distinguished.
The editor of the Georgian has been
particularly happy in his sketches of
that country, through which he has re-
Gently travelled. Bait. .7merican.
Immediately at the head of Lake
George, a short distance from CaId-
well, are the ruins of forts George and
William Heary. Circumstances on
my arrival prevented me from visiting
them, with regret much, as the lat
ter is celebrated in The history Of the
French wars. In 1854, the French Ge-
neral, Baron Dieskaw, marching TO at
tack the English General Johnson's
camp at this place, accidentally sur
prised Col. Williams, marching with
1000 men TO the relief Of Fort Edward,
on the Hudson, whom he attacked, and
after bloody contest totally defea. ed.
Among the slain was Col. Williams
Dieskaw moving forward TO attack the
English camp, was met by Johnson,
and another bloody battle followed,
when the French, in their turn, were
routed, and retreated to the ground
where the first battle was fought. Die
skaw was killed in this action. The re-
mainder of the French were on the same
day surprised, while refreshing them
selves, by detachment OF English,
when third contest took place, and
they were all killed or taken prisoners.
In this action, the Captain who COM
manded the English was killed. On
our way to Saratoga, we were shown
"French Mountain,' where Col. Will
liams was defeated, and also the spot
where killed Directly at the side of
the wood,a few miles from Lake George
is small circular piece Of water, three
or four hundred yards in circumference,
into which the bodies Of all slain dur
ing the day were thrown. 1t is aptly
named Tie BioOdy Pond 1t is horri-
bic looking place, surrounded by low
bushes, and entirely covered with the
green floating leaves Of the water lilly.
1t is said skulls and bones may still be
fshed up from its bottom shudder-
ed in looking at it. If ever the spirits
Of the dead denied the rites Of sepul-
chre walked, it should be here. Fort
William Henry, in l757, in the fourth
attempt, was taken by the French Mar
quis, Montcalm, after a gallant defence
by its commander, Col. Monroe, who,
in consequence, obtained honorable
terms; but when its garrison were
marching out, the Indian allies Of the
French, being unrestrained, fell upon
lnSll, anu all lnulSCIlilllhdle iilaSSdCiS
Of men, women and children, and In
dians friendly to the English, followed,
and upon the same ground too tina, the
battles three years before were fought.
The fort was then destroyed by Mont
calm, and has never been rebuilt -
Fort George was built by the English
afterwards, but is celebrated by no e.
vent of note. 1t was here that General
Abercrombie, in 1883, embarked with
$1,000 men, in 1000 boats, on his un-
fortunate and i'll conducted expedition
against Ticonderoga, i'll which Lord
Howe, "a relation Of General Howe, of
our Revolution) was killed; and here,
also, General Amherst embarked for
the same place, but me! with more sue
cess, as both Ticonderoga and Crown
Point fell into his hands without blood
shed, being abandoned at his ap-
proach."