Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1903-08-20
The Battle of Lake George.


! event, of the old French and Indian war,
| in which war the question was decided
whether the English or French should
control the North American continent
| and whether this part of the continent
should be New England or New France.
Early in September, 1855. two hostile
armies were moving toward each other.
| one, under Sir William Johnson, who
had been superintendent of Indian affairs
and now was major general in the Brit
ish service, comprised 5000 provincial
troops and go Mohawk Indians, under
their sacl,cm, Iicndrick. With this force
Sir William had been ordered to move
against the French fort at Crown Point,
where an army of 100 French regulars,
lGc Canadian and 700 Abcnakc Indians
had been gathered under Baron Dicskau,
a brave old French officer who had
served under the famous Marshal SAKE
in the European wars While Johnson
was moving from Fort Edward to New
York. intending to take the route by way
Of Lake George and Ticonderoga to
Crown Point. Dieskau had moved down
Lake Champain to the end of South Bay
where Whitehall now stands, and march
cd thence over land to attack Fort Ed
ward, thus moving to the rear of John
son and intercepting his line of COM
munication to the south. When within
four miles of Fort Edward Dieskau's In
dians, on account of their great dread of
artillery. refused to attack the fort and
Dicskau having learned that the English
were in camp at the head of Lake George,
where johnson was hating to collect
battoauX to take his army down Lake
George, decided to turn to the north and
attack johnson in his camp. When the
latter learned by his scouts that Dieskau
was moving upon Fort Edward he de-
tached a force of 1000 provincials under
Col Ephraim Williams of Massachusetts,
(who was the founder of Williams Col
lege, and from whom Wiliamstown.
Mass, took its nance. and 201 Indians
to reinforce the garrison, which consisted
of 800 New York and New ITampshire
troops. Williams had marched four miles
from the camp at Lake George on his
way to Fort Edward, when he suddenly
and to his surprise met the French. who,
drawn up in semi-circle on the sides Of
a delile and hidden by the forest and
underbrush. were waiting to receive him.
BY the first fire of musketry from his un-
seen enemy Col. Williams was killed and
Hendrick, who had accompanied him.
was mortally wounded. The slaughter
among his men was terrible for a time;
but the troops were soon withdrawn by
Lieutenant Colonel Whiting who sue
ceeded to the command. and made a
hasty retreat to the camp, followed close
ly by the French and Indians. johnson,
meantime. had hastily thrown up "A
breastwork of logs, behind which he had
three hcld pieces. the fire from which so
intimidated the Indians and checked the
advance of the Canadians. that Dieskau
was obliged to delay his attack for an
hour or more. About noon he attacked
the breastwork with his 3o0rogulars. firing
by platoons, while the Canadians MAIN
tanned a scattering fire from the TANKS.
Tho provnClals met the attack with a
sharp fire of muSkctry and artillery, I'M
der which the regulars fell back Dieskau
then led his men successfully to the as
sault on right and left, but without avail.
Johnsons men held their ground with
some hand to-hand fighting over the
brcastwork. Tho French lines became
disordered, and the provincials springing
over the breastworh, took the offensive,
and the assailants retrcatcd in extreme
disorder leaving most of the French reg
ulars dead or wounded on the field
Sir William johnson was wounded early
on Gen. Phnehas Lyman. who proved
fully equal TO the situation. Dieskau was
also severely wounded in the action, and
was then shot. according to one account
by refugee Fronchman." and accord
ing to another by a Massachusetts man.
who came upon him leaning against a
tree, and supposing that he was drawing
a pocket pistol whereas he was pulling
out his watch to offer to his captor. shot
him again. innictng a wound from which
he never recovered.
After the repulsc the Canadians and
Indians retreated to the scene of Colonel
Wlliamss disaster where "A party of POO
New Hampshire and New York troops
sent from Fort Edward to reinforce John
son, met and scattered them. and the de-
feat of the French expedition was com
pete. The English loss in this battle was
ZIG killed and ninetysiN wounded-a re-
markahly small proportion OF wounded
| The French loss was reported by
Sir William Johnson as between five
and and six hundred He was made
| n haronct in reward for his victory
and received large grants Of land and money
from the crown. John Stark, the hero
Of the Battle of Bennington, had his first
| experience under fire as a member of
| Rogers's Rangers, in this battle. and
| Gen. Israel Putnam fought as a private
| in Colonel Williamss regiment
Johnson did not follow up the victory
by pushing on and taking Fort Frederic,
as in the opinion of most historians he
could and should have done; but remain
| Cd and spent the rest of the summer in
building Fort William Henry. near his
camp.
This battle took place on the sth of
September, 1855, and is to be celebrated
on the sth of September next by unveil-
| ing a monument erected on the old bat
tefeld, at Caldwell, by the New York
Society Of Colonial Wars. The monument
consists OF a group in bronze, represent
ing Sir William Johnson and his Indian
ally. Hendrick. placed upon an ornamen-
tai pedestal, with suitable inscription.