man had emigrated to New York at an early age, and by uncommon gifts of mind and body, united to ardent ambition, had risen from the condition of a private soldier, to wealth, consideration, and a seat at the council-board of his adopted country. For some years he had been settled on the fertile banks of the Mohawk river, where he had built two handsome residences, and acquired a large estate. He

own interest, but on the contrary raised himself to power and wealth in an open and active manner; not disdaining any honourable means of benefiting himself. He built two spacious and convenient places of residence on the Mohawk river, known afterwards by the name of Johnson Castle and Johnson Hall. The Hall was his summer residence. Here this singular man lived like a little sovereign; kept an excellent table for strangers and officers, whom the course of their duty now frequently led into these wilds; and by confiding entirely in the Indians, and treating them with unwearied truth and justice, without ever yielding to solicitation that he had once refused, he taught them to repose entire confidence in him. So perfect was his dependance on those people, whom his fortitude and other manly virtues had attached to him, that when they returned from their summer excursions, and exchanged the last year's furs for fire-arms, &c., they used to pass a few days at the Castle, when his family and most of his domestics were down at the Hall. There they were all liberally entertained by Sir William; and 500 of them have been known, for nights together, after drinking pretty freely, to lie around him on the ground, while he was the only white person in a house containing great quantities of everything that was to them valuable or desirable. Sir William thus united in his mode of life, the calm urbanity of a liberal and extensive trader, with the splendid hospitality, the numerous attendance, and the plain, though dignified manners of an ancient baron."-Memoirs of an American Lady, vol. ii., p. 61.

Sir William Johnson was regularly appointed and paid by government as Superintendant of Indian affairs.

associated himself intimately with the Indians of the Five Nations, learned their language, habits, and feelings, and gained their affection and respect. In war, he was their chief and leader; in peace, the persevering advocate of their rights and interests. Accordingly, when called to the command of the army, Hendrick, a Mohawk sachem, and 300 warriors of that tribe, followed him to the camp.

General Johnson had never seen a campaign, his troops had never seen an enemy, with the exception of a few companies that had shared the glories of Louisburg, but his ability and courage, and their zeal and spirit, served instead of experience. To this force was intrusted the most difficult undertaking in the chequered campaign, and it alone gained a share of honour and success.

By the end of June, 6000 men, the hardy militia of the northern states,2 had mustered at Albany under Johnson's command; he soon after sent them forward with Major-General Lyman, to the carrying

2 "Few countries could produce such dexterous marksmen, or persons so well qualified for conquering those natural obstacles, of thick woods and swamps, which would at once baffle the most determined European. Not only were they strong of limb, swift of foot, and excellent marksmen, the hatchet was as familiar to them as the musket; in short, when means or arguments could be used powerful enough to collect a people so uncontrolled and so uncontrollable, and when headed by a leader whom they loved and trusted, a well-armed body of New York Provincials had nothing to dread but an ague or an ambuscade, to both of which they were much exposed on the banks of the Lakes, and amidst the swampy forests they had to penetrate in pursuit of an enemy."-Memoirs of an American Lady, vol. i., p. 203.

place between Lake George and the Hudson river, sixty miles in advance; here they established a post called Fort Edward, in a strong position, while the artillery, provisions, and boats for the campaign, were being prepared under the general's eye. Towards the end of August, Johnson joined his army at the carrying-place, and proceeded to the southern extremity of Lake George, leaving Colonel Blanchard with 300 men to garrison the newly erected fort.

Here all the Indian scouts brought the news that the French had intrenched themselves at Ticonderoga on the promontory between the Lakes George and Champlain, but that the works were still incomplete. Johnson promptly prepared for the offensive; soon, however, his plans were changed by the news of Baron Dieskau's arrival on the Lake with a considerable force of regular troops from Old France. The well known ability and courage of the enemy, together with his formidable force, alarmed Johnson for the safety of the British settlements; he therefore immediately dispatched an earnest intreaty for reinforcements to the provincial governments, who loyally responded to the appeal, but the danger had passed before their aid reached the scene of action.

Baron Dieskau had been ordered to reduce the Fort of Oswego on Lake Ontario, as the primary object of his campaign, but on hearing that a British force was in motion upon Lake George, he determined first to check or destroy them, and

pressed on rapidly against Johnson, with 2000 men chiefly Canadians and Indians. The English chief was apprised of this movement, but could form no estimate of the enemy's strength, his savage informants being altogether ignorant of the science of numbers: he nevertheless made every possible preparation for defence, and warned Colonel Blanchard to concentrate all his little force within the fort; that officer was, however, slain in the mean time, by an advance party of the French.

Johnson now summoned a council of war, which recommended the rash step of dispatching a force of 1000 men and the Mohawk Indians to check the enemy; Colonel Ephraim Williams was placed in command of the detachment. Hardly had they advanced three miles from the camp when suddenly they were almost surrounded by the French, and after a gallant but hopeless combat, utterly routed, with the loss of their leader, Hendrick the Indian chief, and many of the men. The victors, although they had also suffered in the sharp encounter, pursued with spirit, till checked near the camp by Colonel Cole and 300 men, sent by Johnson in the direction of the firing. By this delay the British were enabled to strengthen their defences, and to recover, in some measure, from the confusion of their disaster. The most vigorous efforts of the officers were needed to overcome the panic caused by Williams's defeat and death, and by their ignorance of the advancing enemy's force.

After a brief pause, Dieskau made a spirited

attack upon the British intrenchments, but his Canadians and Indians were suddenly checked by Johnson's guns; 3 they at once gave way, and inclining to the right and left, contented themselves with keeping up a harmless fire on the flanks of the works. The French regulars, however, bravely maintained their ground, although surprised by the strength of Johnson's position, and damped by finding it armed with artillery. But they could not long bear the brunt alone; after several gallant attacks, the few remaining still unhurt also dispersed in the forest, leaving their leader mortally wounded on the field. Early in the action General Johnson had received a painful wound, and was obliged unwillingly to retire to his tent, the com

...

"Our artillery then began to play on them, and was served, under the direction of Captain Eyre in a manner very advantageous to his character."-Letter from General Johnson to the Governor of New York. Camp at Lake George, Sept. 9th, 1755.

4 "Just arrived from America, and to be seen at the New York and Cape Breton Coffee-house, in Sweetings-alley, from 12 till 3, and from 4 till 6, to the latter end of next week, and then will embark for America in the General Webb, Captain Boardman, a famous Mohawk Indian Warrior!-the same person who took M. Dieskau, the French general, prisoner, at the battle of Lake George, where General Johnson beat the French, and was one of the said general's guards; he is dressed in the same manner, with his native Indians when they go to war; his face and body painted, with his scalping knife, tom-axe, and all other implements of war that are used by the Indians in battle. A sight worthy the curiosity of every true Briton.

"Price one shilling each person.

*.* The only Indian that has been in England since the reign of Queen Anne."-Public Advertiser, 1755.