French and Indian War: A History From Beginning to End (Native American History Book 4) by Hourly History

Author:Hourly History [History, Hourly]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Hourly History
Published: 2017-02-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Five

The Montcalm Before the Storm

“Christian, behold!... The arm of God prevailed, the victor of this cross.”

—General Montcalm, upon his surprising victory at Fort Carillon, July 8, 1758

Before Pitt could begin execution of his strategy to take Quebec by way of Louisbourg, Lord Loudoun had already made an attempt, which was no more successful than any other British campaign of 1757. Loudoun had gotten as far as Halifax on Nova Scotia before determining that he was too outnumbered, retreating to Boston for the winter.

In Loudoun’s absence, the number of soldiers on the New York frontier was markedly low. Lieutenant-General Montcalm moved his men south from Quebec to take advantage of their depleted defenses. His goal was to take Fort William Henry, located at the southern end of Lake George. Governor Vaudreuil had tried unsuccessfully to take the fort in March of that year, and Montcalm did not intend to fail in the same endeavor, bringing together a company of 8,000 French and Canadian soldiers to join in the effort. There were also thousands of Indians in their ranks, the presence of which greatly displeased Montcalm after his experience at Fort Oswego, but Vaudreuil welcomed their aid precisely because of incidents like Oswego; a strong Indian presence would, he knew, terrify the enemy.

With Loudoun and his second-in-command, Major General James Abercromby, away on the fruitless Louisbourg expedition, the British third in command was Brigadier General Daniel Webb. As scouts began reporting the movement of French and Indian forces in the area, Webb did little to bolster the defenses at Fort William Henry, sending a detachment of only 200 men, though he had as many as 3,500 men at his disposal. It is unclear whether Webb intended to draw the French further south to his post at Fort Edward, or whether he acted from sheer incompetence; either way, the 2,000 men at Fort William Henry were severely outnumbered, and there was little to be done in anticipation of the siege.

It began on August 3, 1757, and ended on August 9. Colonel George Munro, the commanding officer at Fort William Henry, had fought nobly in spite of receiving a message from Webb that no relief force was coming. When Montcalm offered him an honorable surrender, Munro accepted. According to the terms, Munro and his men promised they would not engage in battle for 18 months. In return, they would be allowed to march unhindered to Fort Edward and to maintain their arms and personal effects. The battle had been conducted by gentlemen, and the surrender was meant to be so as well.

Montcalm’s worst fears about his Indian allies were realized on the morning of August 10. As the British troops began their departure for Fort Edward, they were mercilessly attacked by the Indians who had aided the French in their defeat. Montcalm had, of course, explained to them that by the terms of the surrender, there was to be no plundering of loot and no taking of captives, but these were the very prizes for which the Indians had fought.

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