Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1892-03-16


from the French, and the pageants on
its waters were the most brilliant wit
messed during Colonial times.
Many of the most stirring scenes of
the war between France and England
for permanent foothold on this conti-
nent took place on Lake George. 1t
was here that some of the great armies
of the two powers were marshalled,
and in the ranks Of the English fought
such heroes as Seth Pomeroy, Israel
Putnam and John Stark, the victor of
Bennington:
In 1853, memorable year in the
history of the young Colonies, the
king of France sent out Baron Dieskau
to command his forces in North
America. The English, not to be
caught mapping. raised an army, COM
posed mostly of the sturdy men of
New England, who, in later years,
conquered their old commanders on
the plains of Saratoga and at York
town. Sir William johnson led this
army to the banks of Lake George and
built there q 1otilIa, which was to
carry his men down the lake to Ticon-
deroga.
The woods rang with the sounds of
shipbuilding and the shouts of the
men. In short time the two armies
met, and Baron Dieskau showed what
mettle he was made of. The French
and English struggled nearly a whole
day on the shores OF the little lake, and
at last the soldiers of King Louis were
driven b. ok and victory perched on
the banners of the English.
When King George heard that the
French had been beaten on the banks
of the lake which bore his name, he
could not understand how it had come
about, for he was told that the victors
were the rough but sturdy yeomsn of
New Hampshire and New York, not
trained soldiers at all.
The British king took down a rude
/ map of the country and looking at the
small spot occupied thereon by Lake
George, he placed his finger over it
and turning to Pitt, said:
.'The man who won that victory will
be heard from again.
The brave young soldier, Montcalm,
whose name is connected with the last
great battle between the French and
, English in America, gained some laur-
els on Lake George.
He mustered at Ticon deroga, which
was on the river that connects Lakes
George and Champlain, a large army
for the capture of Fort William Henry,
at the head of the lake discovered by
Isaac Joques.
The flotills, commanded by Mont
calm, sailed down the lake one July
day in 1757, with the brilliant banners
of France waving in the sun.
The uniforms of his soldiers con-
trasted strangely with the dark skins
and war paint of his Indians. The ex-
pedition landed near the fort, COM
manded by Colonel Munroe, and
the siege began.
Fort William Henry was bravely de-
Tended, but the English were starved
into submission, and when they sur
rendered the Indians massacred nearly
/ all, and the waters of Lake George ran
red with the best blood of the Colonies
such was Colonial warfare in these
( days.
But day of retribution was coming
for the French, Lake George, still the
theatre of great events, was to witness
another spectacle, as brilliant as the
| one furnished by Montcalm and his
soldiers.
William Pitt, the Prime Minister of
King George, resolved to drive the
French from Canada, and to this end
sent out young Lord Howe to take
command of the kings forces in
America.
Again King George took down the
| map of America, and looked a long
time at that portion of the country
| where Lake George shone IN the sum
mer sun.
The coming of Lord Howe arouse d
| the men of the Colonies; they fiocked
in large numbers to the English camp,
and the shore of the beautiful lake was
| again dotted with white tents.
! It was a brilliant spectaclel The
| Highlanders were there, and the tall
! forms of the Grensdiers were to be
seen on every side. The English
! soldiers laughed at the plainly DIR essed
/ men of the Colonies, but they knew
more about Colonial war than they,
and had saved the army Of Braddock
! only few years before.
! The army built its boats on the lake,
and, one day, those who gazed from
the shores saw the great fotilla, carry
ing thousands of soldiers, move away to
ward Ticonderoga.
Montcalm commanded the fort,
which, later on, Ethan Allen took, and.
with his few men, met Lord Howe and
beat him back. 1t was a dreadful
battle, and the lake echoed with the
terrific combat. The English, despite
the bravery of the native troops, were
driven from the field, and retreated
down the lake with dropping banners,
leaving hundreds of their comrades on
the battlefield. Montcalm was victor
ious.
After all this came General Wolf,
the young officer who broke forever
French power in America, though it
cost him his life on the plains of
Quebec. His army crossed Lake
George with banners flying and every
man confident of victory.
General Amherst had immediate
command of this army, and with him
were John Stark and the famous
Rogers, whose American rangers be-
came so celebrated in the campaign
which followed.
They found Ticonderoga abandoned,
for Montcalm, who had defended Il SO
successfully before, had blown it up,
and the gate to Canada was open. It
seems that the road to Canada always
led across the waters of Lake George.
When the war between France and
England came to a close, Lake George
had rest, but during the War
of the Revolution it again became
the thestre of exciting events. On