The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1851-10-18
Prom tho n. u. Patriot
SIEGE or PORT WILLIAM HENRY.

SKETCH N rHr PRRScn wan or i767
MEssns, EDIToRs Perhaps this sketch
Of a scene Of border warfare may not be- unin-
tsrcsting 10 many or your readers who are the
descendants Of the heroic Ptoynrials who
defended Fort William Henry In March,
1875
In the winter Of 1857, Fort Edward upon
the Hudson, aud Fort William Henry nt the
Sourii cnd 0r Lake Civ0rfe were The northern
frontier posts OF Ills Brttanpie Majesty do
minions in North America These forts were
about Gleen miles apart Fort William Hen
" was At this time gNrrisonod by mn Irish
regiment aud 100 Provincial rangers. The
nearest French post was Tieonderoga, { miles
northward
With the exception Of having the small poN
among thcm the garrison OF Fort William
Henry rested ia confident security on the eve
orAhrrh ~, I767. The fort was commanded
hy Col. IIayilAnd, an officer Of distinguished
gan Antry in the British army. The rangers,
In the absence Of Major Rogers, were COM
mandcd by Capt john Stavk as senior officer.
Tho latter, while going his rounds ON this e
ycntlul eve, overheard squad OF his men,
who were all Scotch Irish, talking Of the col-
chraion they intended 10 have on ST Pat
ricks brth.night. Without speaking word
10 another individual, he ordored line sutlcr,
who supplied the corps Of nngcrs with ra-
tions, tn deliver no rum without written or
der from him lie then retired to his quar-
ters, telling his orderly sergeant, who waited
az hs d055, 10 Sly to aIi who tainc, that he
had retired 10 his quarters with lame right
hand.
The Irish troops received on extra supply
nf rum ON the occasion, and commenced n ca
rouse, In honor Of ST. Patrick, and drank 50
freely thai the officer Of the day could 6nd
none Of them iit for the duty OF sontnels on
the ramparts. The rangers who werc sober
supplied their place The next day the same
scenes were enacted in honor of ST. Patrick
wifr, Shclah.
The rangers, who were partly Of the same
yirsrcr1t, srriu, v,tl-r ,,f,ies tl,''s'ss!Ia-
so happily, wished for the same privilege
The sutlcr informed them Of his orders
The quarters of Capt S. were besct, but his
orderly refused entrance, saying that the cap
tain was confined to his bunk with a painful
| ly lame right haud. ..,
The soldiers felt cross but bore il like philos
ophers. Al 2 o'clock on the morning Of the
| 10th, scn,inel discovered light upon the
lake, and soon made out large force adyanc-
ing. A report was instantly made to Capt
Stark. The lame hand was forgotten; he wa'
again among his soldiers message was sent
10 Col. IIaviland with the news aud the corps
Of rangers mustered upon the ramparts as 81
Icutly as possible.
AZ this time no lights were TO be seen il
the fort. The Frcnch Army of $500 rcguIar
with plenty of Indians in their rear, com
mauded by Mons Vaudreul, advanced quietl,
within twenty rods Of the fortress and halted
In few seconds a column OF 500 men advanc
ed from their line with scaling ladders, think
ing to carry the fort by surprise. They plant
ed their ladders and mounted. As the fore
most parties were bout to put their feet upol
the ramiparts, n stern voice from the garrison
gave the word Fire" A vollcy of musketr!
was instantly poured with sure aim upon thr
assailants, and the heavy guns of the fort o
pened with grape and cannistor upon tho col
umn in the rear. The enemy were rcpulse,
and fell back mortified aud confused. Thci
expedition had been planned with view Of
carrying the fort by surprise, in consequence
of the excesses which they knew would follow
the eve of ST Patrick. They were disap
pointed. The roar Of the guns diesipatcd thu
fumes Of alcohol from the brains Of the regu
lars, and the garrison was soon in condition
for R'vigorons defence. At daylight thu
French General sent flag OF truce by hi
Lieut.. General Of artillery, and formal y sum
moned the garrison TO surrender. bic sal,
they were occupying territory which belong
ed to his most Christian Majesty the King Of
France. IIe- offered the garrison their lives
and the officers their baggage and side-aru's
The garrison was tn march out with the hon
ors Of war. He suggested, however, that il
would be as well for them To. .gseke some pres
cnts 90 the Indians, TO keep them quiet n
these terms were not acccptcd, general at
tack wac TO bo made with their whole army
and il the fort was carried, no quarter wolld