Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1908-12-11
Some Interesting Correspond.

Some Interesting Corresponds
ence.
The following letter is from Mr.. NJ. F.
Barnes, who is more than ordinarily well
versed in historical facts regarding this
section of the country:
Nov. 2Sth 1908.
Hon. Joseph Battell.
Middlebury. vt.
Dear Sir:
In a very interesting and able ad
dress delivered by Senator Henry w. Hill
of Buffalo, N. Y, before the Vermont
Historical Society at Montpelier the 10th
inst, upon Samuel Champlain and his
discovery of the lake which bears his
name, while speaking of his celebrated
engagement with the Iroquois, is report
ed to have made the following state
ment "There has been some controversy
among historians as to the location of
this engagement, but most agree that it
was in the vicinity of TiconderOga, al
though George +. Bixby in formal adj
dress before the Albany Institute on
November 9Th, 1885, contends that the
first battle of Lake Champlain occurred
at Crown Point and his address on that
occasion will be read with interest by
those who hold the latter views"
One would be led to infer from this
statement that DIR. Bixby was the only
prominent authority who made this
claim.
believe Hon. L, E. Chittenden was
regarded, previous to his death few
years ago, one of the best authorities, if
not the leading one, upon historical mat
tiers in this country. If | am not mis-
taken MIR. Chittenden wrote you letter
a few years ago which you published in
the Register, calling your attention to
the fact that the statement you made at
that time in your publication entitled
illustrated Vermont which you issued
as a supplement to the Register, re-
garding the location OF that battle was
not in accord with the views held by
modern historians, who hold that that
engagement took place ION the north end
of Crown Point"which is now known as
Orchard Point and upon which was To-
Gated the old French City in l749 and
later.
Could you turn to that letter OF Mr..
Chittenden's or its publication in the
Register, and may ask to be favored
with copy of IT.
Very truly yours,
Nj. F. BARNES.
For the benefit of Mr.. Barnes and the
many Others who will be interested, we
reprint the letter of MIR. Chittenden:
New York, Jan. 20, 1898.
80 E. 55th st.
My DEAR BATTELL-I am writing
with broken right arm, and may not
be able to say all would like to, but l
will Try to correct some historical errors
on page of your supplement to the
REGISTER, which some one has sent me.
These errors are old ones which have
been often repeated, but they are none
the less errors.
You say that this lake (Champlain)
twas called by the Indians Caniaderi-
Guarunte-Door of the Country" 1t
was the entrance at Ticouderoga to
which they gave such a name and with
propriety. The lake was never so cal
led.
Again you say, "Continuing southwark
he tChamplain) came to another lake
lying southwest of and near Lake Cham
plain, and called by the natives Lake
Horizon. This he christened Lake st
Sacrament, now Lake George. Here
they encountered a band of Iroquois,
long hostile to the Algonquins, and
battle ensued."
This is all wrong. Champlain never
saw Lake George; the battle took place
at Crown Point on Lake Champlain, and
Champain did not go south of that point.
He got all he knew of Lake George from
the Indians of his party. Here is his
own account of it, taken from the first
or 1913 edition of his voyages, page III,
third book of part first:
Continuing our route along the west
shore of the lake, l saw towards the east
very high mountains, their tops covered
with snow. | saw towards the
south others not SO lofty as the first and
not snow covered. The Indians told me
that there we ought to find their
enemies-that the places were thickly
inhabited, and that to 20 there we must
pass waterfall which have seen since,
and from there to enter another lake
three or four leagues long, which, having
past, there was a land route of four
leagues to pass to river, which runs to
the shore of the Almouchiquois.
That the battle between Champlain's
party and the Iroquois was on the shere
of lake Champlain and not on Lake
George is also certain from Champlains
own account of it. He says: ION the
Goth of the month we met the Iroquois
at the point of cape which extends into
the lake from the west side" Then after
describing the battle he SAYS: "The
place where this fight was made is in 43
degrees and some minutes of latitude,
and named the lake Champlain."
There is no doubt, l think, that the
fight was on the north end of Crown
Point. and the prisoner was burnt on the
Vermont shore few miles north of
Chimney Point.
Aside from these errors your supple
ment is most interesting Hoping to see
you next summer, lam, as ever, cordially
, yours,
l.. +. CHITTENDEN,
with broken right arm.)