The French and Indian War (part 4).

Lake George. Photo: Daderot.

Albany Institute of History and Art, New York, USA. 

It sure was quite a view, to stare at the Lake George, on that summer evening, with all its warm shades. Across the mirror of the surface, a myriad of canoes, with thousands of Red Skins, dressed and painted for war. Next, to fill the scene, hundreds of sailing or rowing boats slowly plowed through. They were the regular forces and militians of New France. All they came for a date which would end in drama: the assault of Fort William Henry, over the south coast of the lake.

Louis Joseph de Montcalm.

By Antoine F. Sergent-Marceau, 1790.

McCord Museum, USA. {{PD-US}}

By the summer of 1757, France and Great Britain had struggled for more than three years, for the final supremacy over North America. The balance seemed to favour the French side, on those days. The General Montcalm expected to inflict a definitive stroke. His plan was to consolidate the possessions of France... from the capital of New France, Quebec, to the Ohio valleys and beyond, as far as the Mississipi River estuary. It all would be a part of a French Empire.

Plan of Fort Henry. By W. Eyre.

Source: Library of Congress, USA. {{PD-US}}

The planning for the siege and its execution, turned out just fine. Montcalm, knowing that everything was under his control, suggested the surrender of the fort. But the answer was that they would fight to the last man. George Monro, the officer in charge, expected for some reinforcements from Fort Edward, twenty miles away. But then, they had to endure a persistent bombing... four days with their nights! After many losses, and severe damages to the fort, Monro understood that they would never receive any help. He accepted the surrender. The defeated warrior negotiated the pacific evacuation, even with military honors.

Montcalm fighting witn the indians at Fort Henry.

Wood engraving by Alfred Bobbett, 1870.

Library of Congress, USA. {{PD-US}}

About the events which came next, exist varied versions. According to one of them, the Indian allies of the French attacked the persons, when they left the fort. Brutally, they robbed and took hostages, as spoils of war. This regrettable incident is better known as the Massacre of Fort Henry. On that day, hundreds of people died or were kidnapped, including women and children! Reportedly, Montcalm in vain tried to protect the victims.

But, others think that although the pillage actually did occur, was much lesser. The Indians fell upon the stragglers and they killed some of them... the massacre never happened! Magnified or not, the fact was that it broke any surrendering agreements they had. At last, the French destroyed the fort, and attained a massive armament and supplies. 

Fort William Henry-Lake George. By Philip John Bainbridge, 1839.

Source: collectionscanada.gc.ca {{PD-US}}

Those silent solitudes remained as the only witnesses about the sad events....

Despite that, the British seemed very active in other fronts. Their obvious numerical superiority, permitted them to focus over several military objectives, at the same time. While the French forces, were unable to set a big army at any place, without leaving unprotected somewhere else. And also, for many reasons, they were losing more and more the support of their fierce Indian allies.

On the other hand, the morale of the troops began to weaken, due to a deficient backing from the French Crown. The war in Europe, and the corruption, diverted many of the necessary resources. It was added to the sheer dominance from Great Britain at the seas, that almost maintained them isolated. And, with the serious divergences between Governor Vaudreuil and General Montcalm... the French defeat was only a matter of time. 

Still, the British should live some ugly days, as they tried to beat the New France forces. 

John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun, ca. 1750

Scotish National Gallery. Source: www.nationalgalleries.org

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Shortly before the disaster at Fort Henry, the Commander in chief of the British Army in North America, John Campbell (Lord Loudoun), had plans to attack Quebec. But a direct order from London changed all that. First, he must siege the Fortress of Louisburg. It would be another upset, as they had to retreat without a shot, despite the great force they had displayed. It seemed that a doubtful Loudoun, never dared to order the attack... so he received the blame for the failure. In December 1757, he was removed from his charge. However, his administration had been efficient. The improvements he made on military logistics, soon proved to be very useful. 

William Pitt the Elder. By William Hoare, ca. 1754.

National Portrait Gallery, UK.

But in the year 1758, the British had decided to force the situation. William Pitt highly raised the number of regular troops in America. Also, he improved the relations and management with the colonists militia. They would concentrate their efforts over three fronts... the Ohio zone, Lake Champlain and the Fortress of Louisburg. There was no doubt that the last, was the key to open the door of Saint Lawrence River, and to win the war!

James Abercrombie. From: Travels in the Pyrenees.

London 1813. Copied by: The British Library.

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James Abercrombie, the new Commander in chief, would also fail. Under his orders, the British tasted their worst defeat of that war. It was at Fort Carillon (Ticonderoga), at the hands of Montcalm. There, a remarkable defense of the latter, joined to the stubbornness of Abercrombie, decided the clash. This general, thought that his numerical advantage (4 to 1), would be enough to win. But, by the end of the day, he had to retreat with two thousand casualties. The French side had had only four hundred loses. This was on July 8th of 1758. By September, the British had another commander...

Map of Louisburg, 1758. The Royal Navy, From the Earliest Times

to 1900, vol. 3, London, 1898. By W.L. Clowes {{PD-US}}  

Meanwhile, at Louisburg, after a seven weeks of a hard siege, which almost tore down the fortress, the British finally won. They were leaded by the General Jeffrey Amherst. There, a young officer stood out. He was the second in command: General James Wolfe. By his appearance an attitude, he seemed a to be a weak person. However, his boldness and courage, resulted decisive... not only to render that bastion, but for the rest of the war! Louisburg fortress surrendered on July 26th.  

This fortress has been partially rebuilt. At the present, it is an interesting place to visit, for those who feel the spirit which seems to float at historic sites.

Liutenant Colonel John Bradstreet, by John McIlworth,

ca. 1764. National Portrait Gallery, Washington, DC.

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As if that disastrous defeat was not enough, the French would receive another hard blow. They also lost Fort Frontenac, near the source of the River Saint Lawrence. Despite its importance, was defended by only a few more than a hundred men. Three thousand soldiers (most of them were militiamen), surrounded the fort and the bold Liutenant-Colonel John Bradstreet leaded the attack. It took only two days of continuous bombing to achieve the surrender of the garrison. They seized a large amount of military stocks. But even more important, they had cut the land communications and supplies lines, between Quebec and Montreal. 

The Taking of Fort Frontenac, 1758. Engraving by John Henry Walker.

Source: Library and Archives of Canada.

Fort Duquesne also fell into British hands, leaded by the General John Forbes. After some confusing episodes, in which Washington figured again, the Indians had left the French alone. These latter decided to burn the fort and run away to the north. On the same place was built Fort Pitt. With time, it would originate the city of Pittsburgh . 

Fort Duquesne. By Sebastien Paquin, 2002. 

Lic. Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported

Washington was very tired and dissapointed, by those days. With some bitter lessons received, he would not participate anymore in that war. For the time being, Destiny seemed to bring him to a civilian life. 

Fort Ticonderoga, 1759. Unknown author.

Library of Congress of USA. {{PD-US}}

In 1759, the French cause went from bad to worse. They had lost almost all the support from their Indian allies. So they had to pull back their forces, to concentrate on Quebec and Montreal defense. For this reason, the few troops at Ticonderoga, decided to leave the fort. Also, they had not the slightest possibility to hold on the imminent attack of Amherst... with thousands of men. In that way, in silent, the effects of the victory of Montcalm, a year before, vanished in the air. Fort Niagara, the last French fort at the Great Lakes, would fall after a merciless nineteen days shelling.  

James Wolfe. Unknown author.

Source: National Portrait Gallery, London, UK.

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Then, came the attack to the heart of New France: Quebec, on the banks of Saint Lawrence River. James Wolfe, was the leader of a massive fleet and near to ten thousand men. They set sail at Louisburg, in May 1759. It was not an easy task: that city had a privileged and strategic location. The French had concentrated there, near to sixteen thousand soldiers, commanded by Montcalm, whose intelligence and skills they already knew. To France it was an "all or nothing game"... To Great Britain, it meant the final stroke they had waited for. No question that it would be a clash in which honor would worth more tan life...

We will go again to that past, to watch the final act of The Conquest War, as it is also known by the French-Canadians.