CHAP. V. who assisted in forming it, was intrusted with 1777. its execution; and was to lead a formidable

army against Ticonderoga, as soon as the season would permit. At the same time, a smaller party under colonel St. Leger, composed of Canadians, new raised, Americans, and a few Europeans, aided by a powerful body of Indians marching from Oswego, was to enter the country by the way of the Mohawk, and join the grand army on the Hudson.

The force assigned for this service was such as the general himself deemed sufficient; and, as it was the favourite plan of the minister, no circumstance was omitted which could give to the numbers employed their utmost possible efficiency. The troops were furnished with every military equipment which the service required; the assisting general officers were of the first reputation, and the train of artillery was, perhaps, the most powerful ever annexed to an army not more numerous.

S

Burgoyne reached Quebec as early as it was practicable to sail up the St. Lawrence; and, by the extraordinary exertions of governor Carleton, who, though so disgusted at losing the command of the army as to solicit his recal, yet strained every nerve to facilitate the January 22. expedition, he was able to appear in full force on the river Boquet, on the western banks of

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lake Champlain, much earlier than general CHAP. V. Gates had supposed to be possible. Here he

council, after which

Much of the cru

met the Indians in a grand
he gave them a war feast.
elty afterwards practised by these savages has
been attributed to this unfortunate officer;
but it must be admitted that the speech he
made to them on this occasion, was calculated
rather to diminish, than increase their native
ferocity. He endeavoured to impress on them
the distinction between enemies in the field,
and the helpless unarmed inhabitants, many of
whom were friendly to their cause; between
battle, and murder; and addressing himself to
their avarice, promised rewards for prisoners,
but none for scalps. It was perhaps not un-
fortunate for America that, in some instances
peculiarly calculated to excite and interest the
human feelings, these feeble restraints were
totally disregarded.

t

Having published at Putnam river a manifesto designed to act on the fears and hopes of the people of the country through which he was to march, and taken means to give it circulation, he halted a few days at Crown Point, to make the necessary dispositions for the attack of Ticonderoga.

ས་

This fortress lies on the western shore, and only a few miles to the northward from the

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1777.

1

CHAP. V. commencement of that narrow inlet by which 1777. the water from lake George is conveyed to

lake Champlain. Crown Point lies about
twelve miles further north, at the extremity
of the inlet. The first of these places is situ-
ated on an angle of land covered by rocks and
surrounded on three sides by water.
A great
part of the fourth side was covered by a deep
morass, and where that fails in the northwest
quarter, the old French lines still continued as
a defence. The Americans had strengthened
these lines with additional works, and a block-
house. They had other posts, with works and
block houses, on the left, towards lake George.
To the right of the French lines, they had also
two new block-houses, with other works.

Opposite to Ticonderoga on the eastern shore of the inlet, is a high circular hill called mount Independence, which had been occupied on the abandonment of Crown Point, and had been fortified with great care and attention. On the summit of this hill, which is Tableland, had been erected a Star fort, inclosing a large square of barracks, well fortified and supplied with artillery. The foot of the mountain, which on the west side projects into the water, was strongly intrenched to its edge, and the intrenchment well lined with heavy artillery. A battery about half way up the mount, sustained and covered these lower works."

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1777.

These two posts had, with infinite labour, CHAP. V. been joined together by a bridge of communication thrown over the inlet. The bridge was supported on twenty-two sunken piers of very large timber placed at nearly equal distances; the spaces between these were filled with separate floats, each about fifty feet long, and twelve feet wide, strongly fastened together with chains and rivets, and as effectually attached to sunken pillars. On the lake Champlain side of the bridge; it was defended by a boom composed of very large pieces of timber fastened together by rivetted bolts, and double chains made of iron, an inch and a half square. Thus not only a communication was maintained between these two posts; but all access by water from the northern side was totally cut off.*

It is to be observed that as the inlet, immediately after passing Ticonderoga, assumes a new form, suddenly widening to a considerable breadth and becoming navigable for vessels of burden, so from thence it also holds the name of Champlain, although it is not yet properly a part of the lake. On the other hand, the southern gut from lake George, besides being narrow, is also rendered unnavigable by shallows and falls; but on its arrival at Ticonderoga, it is joined by a great body of water on

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CHAP. V. the eastern side, called in this part South river, 1777. but higher up towards its source, before its

junction with a stream running from South bay, and with East bay, the waters of which unite almost at the same point, it is known under the appellation of Wood creek. The confluence of these waters at Ticonderoga forms a small bay to the southward of the bridge of communication; and the point of land formed by their junction is composed of a mountain called Sugar hill.

This hill effectually overlooks, and commands the works of Ticonderoga and mount Independence, as well as the bridge of communication. between them. So unfavourable a circumstance had not escaped the attention of the American officers. A council had been called to take into consideration the propriety of occupying and fortifying this mount. Its importance to the defence of the place was obvious, but the works were already so extensive as to require a garrison of ten thousand men, and to enlarge them without the expectation of a correspondent addition of troops was to add weakness instead of strength. The hope too was entertained, that the extreme difficulty of access to the Sugar mount, and the savage roughness of its surface, would prevent the enemy from attempting to profit from its situation.

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