siderable time was spent in making the necessary arrangements for attacking this formidable post, which the enemy seemed determined to defend, and which had already proved so disastrous to our troops. On seeing the English General ready to advance, however, the enemy, having set fire to the magazines and buildings, abandoned the fort, and retreated to Crown Point. The plan of the campaign, on the part of the enemy, seems to have been, to embarrass and retard the invading army, but not to hazard any considerable engagement, nor to allow themselves to be so completely invested as to make a retreat impracticable; and, in withdrawing from post to post, to make an appearance as if determined to defend each. By these means they hoped that the advance of the British would be so far retarded, that the season for action on the Lakes would pass away without any decisive advantage on the part of the invaders, whilst their own force would be gradually concentrating, so as to be enabled to arrest General Amherst in his progress down the St Lawrence to Montreal. With these views they abandoned Ticonderoga, which experience had shown to be so capable of making a good resistance.

But, although the General had reason to imagine that the enemy would relinquish Crown Point in the same manner as Ticonderoga, yet he took measures as if he expected an obstinate defence, or an attempt to surprise him in his march, recollecting, no doubt, how fatal precipitation and false security had recently proved in that part of the world. Whilst he superintended the repairs of Ticonderoga, he was also indefatigable in preparing batteaux and other vessels for conveying his troops, and obtaining the superiority on the Lakes. Intelligence having been received that the enemy had evacuated Crown Point, and had retired to the garrison of Isle aux Noix, on the northern extremity of Lake Champlain, General Amherst moved forward and took possession of the garrison which the French had abandoned; and, to augment his disposable force, the 2d battalion of the Royal Highlanders was ordered up; Captain James

Stewart, with 150 men, being left at Oswego. The General having, by great exertion, obtained a naval superiority, determined to embark on Lake Champlain, but a succession of storms compelled him to abandon the further prosecution of active movements, for the remainder of the season, and returning to Crown Point, the troops were put into winter quarters.

The great object of the enterprise had been to form a junction, and co-operate with General Wolfe in the reduction of Quebec. Though this plan was frustrated, very important advantages were derived, and a co-operation so far effected, as to prevent the enemy from sending a larger force to oppose General Wolfe in his more arduous undertaking. Before advancing towards Ticonderoga, General Amherst had detached General Prideaux with the 44th and 46th regiments, the 1st battalion of Royal Americans, and some provincial corps and Indians, under the command of Sir William Johnson, to attack the fort of Niagara, a most important post, which secures a greater number of communications than any in America. The troops reached the place of their destination without opposition, and investing it in form, carried on the siege by regular approaches. In a few days after the commencement of the siege, Prideaux was killed by the accidental bursting of a mortar, and the conduct of the operations devolved on Sir William Johnson, who had, on several occasions, given satisfactory proofs of ability. To relieve a post of such consequence, great efforts were made by the French, and a considerable body of troops drawn from the neighbouring garrisons of Detroit, Verango, and Presque Isle. Apprized of their intention, Sir William Johnson made dispositions to intercept them on their march. In the evening he ordered the light infantry to post themselves on the left of the road leading to the fort, and reinforceing them the following morning with the grenadiers and 46th regiment, under Colonel Eyre Massey, and with the 44th regiment, under Lieutenant-Colonel Farquhar, as a reserve, he ordered them to wait the ap

proach of the enemy, who soon appeared in sight, and im mediately attacked with great impetuosity. The Indians commenced with the war whoop, which had now lost its effect upon the British soldiers, and met with such a reception in front, while the light infantry and Indians in the British service attacked them in flank, that, in little more than half an hour, their whole army was put to the rout, and M. D'Aubray the commander, with a number of officers, taken prisoners. This battle having been fought in sight of the French garrison, Johnson sent Major Harvey to the commanding officer with a flag of truce, and a list of seventeen officers taken. He immediately surrendered, and the garrison, consisting of 607 men, marched out with their baggage on the 24th of July, and were perfectly protected from insult, plunder, or outrage, from our Indian allies; the conduct of the British thus exhibiting a remarkable contrast to the treatment which our garrisons had, in similar circumstances, experienced, and refuting the vague pretence, that the excesses and cruelties of the Indians could not be restrained. This was the second victory Sir William Johnson had gained over the enemy, and on both occasions their commanders had fallen into his hands. During this war, Lord Clive and Sir William Johnson, both self-taught generals, evinced, in a series of successful actions, that genius, although uninstructed, will, by its native power, compensate the want of military experience and discipline. The services of the latter were particularly valuable, from the influence which his justice, honour, and conciliating manners, had acquired over the Indians.

The services of Sir William Johnson were equally useful and important. On two occasions he had taken the commanders of the enemy whom he fought, and had materially crippled their power. As a reward for these services, he was raised to the rank of Major-General, and received a Parliamentary grant of L.5000, to which his Majesty added the title of Baronet. Throughout the war he proved himself an active and use ful partisan, and displayed peculiar talents for that species of warfare which is best calculated for the woods and swamps of America. His strict integrity and conciliating manners gave him great influence over the In

In this campaign General Amherst was successful in every enterprise which he undertook. * His progress, though slow, intimidated the enemy to such a degree, that, except at Niagara, they made little resistance; and the unimpaired strength of his army afforded the best prospect of success in his future operations. But, however important the reduction and possession of these posts might be, from the extent of the country which they commanded, they were exploits of easy accomplishment in comparison of the conquest of Quebec, the object to which all these operations were subordinate. That being considered as the main undertaking, it seems somewhat extraordinary, that, while General Amherst headed a force of 14,500 men, the division intended for the reduction of Quebec comprehended only the following regiments, 15th, 28th, 35th, 43d, 47th, 48th, 58th, Fraser's Highlanders, the Rangers, and the Grenadiers of Louisburg, in all not more than 7000 effective men. But the spirit, intrepidity, and firmness of the officers and soldiers, more than supplied the deficiency of numbers. This army, so small in comparison of the importance of the service expected, was fortunate in being placed under the command of Major-General Wolfe, who had borne so active a share in the conquest of Louisburg. He was well supported by the Brigadiers Monckton, Murray, and Townshend, (late Marquis Townshend,) who executed his boldest and most desperate enterprises with that gallan

dians and provincial troops, whom he managed so as to render them exceedingly useful to the service. He was a native of Ireland, and had been early sent to America by his uncle, Sir Peter Warren, to manage an estate which he had purchased there.

• The following was the opinion of an Indian Sachem, of the state of affairs at the close of the campaign of 1759:

"The English, formerly women, are now turned men, and are thick all over the country as the trees in the woods. They have taken Niagara, Cataraque, Ticonderoga, Louisburg, and now lately Quebec, and they will soon eat the remainder of the French in Canada, or drive them out of the country."

try and promptitude which his own example was so well calculated to inspire.

Conformably to my intention of noticing the service of all the Highland corps in this war, I shall now give a few particulars of this expedition, in which Fraser's Highlanders served. A detail of the whole would lead me to a more extended narrative than my plan would admit of. The fleet under the command of Admirals Saunders and Holmes, with the transports, reached the Island of Orleans in the end of June, when the troops were disembarked without opposition. The first attempt was to take possession of Point Levi, situated within cannon-shot of the city. For this service General Monckton, with four regiments, passed the river at night, and next morning advanced and took possession of the post, after driving in some of the enemy's regular troops, who skirmished with his advanced guard. Meanwhile, Colonel Carlton took possession of a post in the western point of Orleans. The difficulties of the enterprise were at this time fully ascertained. Co-operation was not to be expected from General Amherst, of whose movements no intelligence had been received. The enemy, more numerous by many thousands, were commanded by the Marquis de Montcalm, an able, and hitherto fortunate leader, who posted his army on a piece of ground rendered strong by precipices, woods, and rivers, and defended by entrenchments where the ground appeared the weakest. Apparently determined to risk nothing, and relying on the strength of his position, he waited for an opportunity to take advantage of his opponent: General Wolfe seemed fully sensible of the difficulties which he had to surmount, but they served only to inspire his active mind with fresh vigour. However arduous the undertaking, "he knew that a brave and victorious army finds no difficulties." Perceiving the impossibility of reducing the place, unless he could erect his batteries on the north of the St Lawrence, he used many

• General Wolfe's Dispatches.