The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-05-26
CAREER OF GEN. POMER01'
IN INTERESTING PAPER READ Las [
EVENING BYJ. M. b. DWIGHT

Before the Historical society-The Siege
of Louisburg- Pomeroy's Subso-
quent Service-His valor at the Battle +
Lake George and at Bunker Hi1l-Last
Paper of the Season-Next Paper in Sep
tember.
AT the last meeting of the New Haven
Colony Historical society for the seasoFl
held at the society building last evening"
James M. B. Dwight of this city deliv |
cred a most interesting paper on thu
Siege and Capture of Louisburg," VITA
especial reference to the part played b.
Colonel Seth Pomeroy in that even.
and also a resume of Colonel Pome~
roys subsequent career in the servio 4
of the colonies and his afterward cour !.
| try. 7
Mr.. Dwight described the prepara I
tions attendant on the expedition
against Louisburg, and gave a descrip
tion of the composition of the fleet com 4
posing the expedition. He said thas
Massachusetts, sent 5000 men. Maine
was at that time a part of Massachu4 !
setts and sent 1000 men, they being q,
part of this 5000. New Hampshire sent
500 men and Connecticut SIG on condi-
ton that the then lieutenant governor
be given the place of second in COM
mand. Parson Moody was the chape
lain of the expedition. Brigadier General
Joseph White was third in command
and was commander of the famous
Ancient and Honorable Artillery COM.
pany of Boston. Two other leading
lights in the expedition were Captain
Henry Dwight and Captain Edmund
Dwight. The expedition landed three
miles southwest of Louisburg and was
obliged to remain there for three weeks,
as the city of Louisburg was ice-bound
and, strange to say, the presence of the.
expedition was not known in the city
Finally on the 29th Of April the expedi-.
tion reached the city. In an attempt
to make landing force of $50 French
men was found drawn up to oppose the
colonials. OF this force the greater
part were either killed or captured
The French then abandoned LIE Gran6.
Batterie and, as they thought spiked
the guns so that they would be useless.
to the attacking force, but Major
Pomeroy with twenty meh, soon drilled
out the spiking and trained the guns,
on the city under a scathing fire FROM
the French. Chauncey Depew says
that to Major Pomeroy, rather than te,
any one else, was the capture of Louis
burg due, as through his efforts the,
spiked guns were rendered effective an6.
afterward did effective service.
Siege guns were soon after put in
movement toward the city, but became,
stuck in the mud some Of them sinking
out of sight, but by the use of sledges
they were finally placed in the desired
position. Four days afterward the city
was fanked and guns were placed in a
position to command the city and soon
they made terrible havoc in the 2ne-
my's works The French began to sec
that operations were going against
them, and threw several cannon into;
the harbor, where they were afterward
found by the English.
On June Is it was intended to make a
general assault on the city but on the
18th a flag of truce was sent out by the
French, and on the 18th they capitulat-
ed after a siege of forty-nine days,
French trained troops surrendered to
the raw colonial soldiers of New Eng
land
Afterward at the treaty of AK La
Chapelle Louisburg was given back t..
the French, and stirl later it's capture
by the English was again necessary,
and then General Wolf, one of the
greatest of English generals, captured
the city in just forty-nine days, the
| NV rat ttyn
malls.
In 1755 Major Pomeroy again took the
field, and at Lake George won his
greatest laurels. He was chiefly re-
sponsible Cor the victory won there
although an English general who was
ostensibly in command of the English
forces there, but who was not present
received baronetcy for the victory
Colonel Williams, after whom Williams
college was named,was In command OF
Major Pomeroys regiment, but he was
killed early in the engagement. At this
battle the story of Braddock's defeat
was repeated in a measure. The Eng
| lish advanced in fire array closely pack
ed together, and the French and In
dians adopted the same ruse which
proved so disastrous to General Brad
dock. Then Major Pomeroy came for
ward and performed like service to
that performed by Washington for Gen.
eral Braddock. When the troops had
been driven back by the ambush Major
Pomeroy gathered together the tieeiNq
soldiery and formed them behind trees
For five hours the battle ragged on this
plan until finally the French began tc
retreat, and the French general was
wounded and captured. For his con-
duct in this battle Major Pomeroy was
made a colonel.
The thought of independence was now
in the air Two days after the battle
of Lexington Colonel Pomeroy was
made a major general of the colonia
forces. He was over seventy years OF
age at the time, and was rather infirm
He was at home when the news came
to him that the Americans were to take
possession oe the heights of Charles
town Old as he was he started at once
for the scene of action, and covered the
ninety miles in rwenty-four hours, US.
ing up three horses in the journey
When he arrived on the scene he found
the Americans in possession of Bunker
Hill, and in the contest which follow
ed he took a distinguished part His
ride to that battle was equal to that ot
Paul Revere, of General Sheridan Fin.
ally his age and infirmaties compelled