The record-union., 1898-02-25
TAKING OF FORT NIAGARA.
Event of Significant Interest IL
American History.


of Canada in the middle of the last CEN
tury, the taking of Fort Niagara, which
was situated on Niagara River, between
Lakes Ontario and Erie. by Sir William
johnson, IN command of the English
and Colonial troops, constituted an
event of significant and lasting interest
in American history. Preceded as it was
by the capture of Ticonderoga and the
abandonment of Crown Point to the
British, the fall of Fort Niagara was de-
cisive in shaping the future Of Canada.
Terse accounts of these events. to-
gether with drawings of the scenes Of
action, appear in the venerable volume
now in possession of Carrie f. Silk
man of Scranton, Penn.-entitled. "A
New Military Dictionary; or, the Field
of War. Containing a Particular and
Circumstantial Account of the Most Re
markable Battles, Sieges, Bombard-
ments and Expeditions Whether by Sea
or land, Such as Relate to Great Britain
and Her Dependencies" Following is
a description, written for this old book
by British military gentleman" of
the situation on the Canadian border
in 1883: THE theater of our operations
in America is of such vast extent that If
We had perSevered in the course we pur-
sued for some time, in attacking but one
place at a time, the war would inevit-
ably be spun out to an extreme length
without bringing on anything decisive;
and it would have rendered our natural
superiority of little USE by suffering the
French to collect, as they had hitherto
done, their strength at one single point,
which enabled them to contend with us,
with a force sufficient for the service in
that country. This year another method
was followed. 1t was proposed to at
tack the French in all of their strong
posts at once; to fall as nearly as posi-
bic at the same time upon Crown Point,
Niagara and the forts to the south of
Lake Erie. while a great naval arma-
ment and considerable body of land
forces should attempt Quebec by the
River st. Lawrence. The third of the
grand operations undertaken was
against the fort near the Falls of Mag
ara, place Of very great consequence
both in war and in peace. The reduc-
tion of this fort was committed to Bri-
gadierG General Prideaux, under whom
Sir William Johnson commanded the
provincials of New York, and several
Indians of the Five Nations who We're
engaged in the British service. 1t was
hoped that if Niagara could be captured
early in the season troops might be en-
barked on Lake Ontario and finding no
longer any obstruction from Fort From
tenac might drop down the river ST.
Lawrence and possibly make themselves
masters of Montreal, or at least to draw
such a force to that part as greatly to
facilitate the British designs on Que
bee and Crown Point"
General Amherst who commanded the
American forces in chief. was to attack
Ticonderoga, and Crown Point by Lake
George. The reduction of those forts
would naturally lay open Lake Cham
plain, where having established a suffi-
cient naval force, he was to proceed by
way of the River Sorrel directly to Que
bee, the Capital of Canada THE army
under General Amherst was the first in
notion says this military historian
1.-THE Lake George, or, as the French call
it, Lake Sacrament, is long, but in
proportion, narrow water about forty
miles in length, and inclosed on either
side with marshy grounds. This COM
municates, by another long and very
narrow strait, with Lake Champlain.
fort that to the side of Lake George is
called Ticonderoga. and that to the
Champlain Lake is called Fort Frederic
or Crown Point After General AM
herst had passed Lake George he met
with little opposition from the enemy
When he arrived before Ticonderoga the
French made some demonstrations as
if they meant to defend the place, but
perceiving the futility of resistance they
abandoned the fort in the night OF July
Z, 1859, having damaged it as much as
they could, and retired to Crown Point.
General Amherst Immediately repaired
the damaged fortifications and put the
post in good shape. 1t effectually Sc
cured Lake George and covered the
Colonies. The only loss Of any conse-
quence which the English suffered in
making this valuable acquisition was
the death Of Colonel Townsend, who was
killed in accommodating, by shot from
the fort.
Although the British commander had
reason to imagine that the same rea'
sons which had induced the enemy to
abandon Ticonderoga would persuade
them also to relinquish Crown Point,
he took all his measures with the same
care as if he expected an obstinate de-
fense at the latter fort. The French,
however abandoned Fort Frederic at
Crown Point, as had been foreseen. Inc
commandant retired with about 3.oUO
men to the lower end of Lake Cham
plain and posted himself at the ISL
and called Isle du Noix. The French
We're still pretty strong ON the lake,
having several armed boats and troops
with which they hoped to prevent the
progress Of the English into the inter-
ior of Canada. Amherst, as soon as ne
had taken possession of Crown Point
on August IA, 1859 used every en-
deavor to- attain a naval superiority
on the lake, and in the meantime to
strengthen Fort Frederic as he had IL
conderoga. 1t was on the day that he
took possession of Crown Point that
General Amherst received the agreeable
news Of the reduction of Fort Niagara
by the troops under Sir William john
son.
Fort Niagara was regarded as the
most important post in America, for
the reason that it secured the greatest
number of communications. 1t was sit
uated at the very entrance of strait
by which Lake Ontario is Joined TO
Lake Erie The army which had been
appointed to take Fort Niagara reach
ed that fort in command of General
Prideaux without any accident. The
siege of the place had not progressed
many days, however, before General
Prideaux was killed in the trenches by
the bursting of cohorn. The COM
mand then devolved on Sir William