Mehreen Alberts
A series of misunderstandings and betrayals had led to the surrender and murder of many of the fort’s defenders 😎 Modern historians point out that Montcalm’s allies had been promised scalps and plunder in exchange for their participation in the expedition from Canada 😊 But the surrender agreement between Montcalm, Monro prevented Indians from obtaining booty 🤓 Their attack upon the prisoners—the so-called massacre—was a belated attempt to obtain trophies and honourr. Some of the Indians even dug into the graves of the military cemetery that lay outside the fort’s walls so they could scalp the dead and steal blankets and clothing. It was ironic that many who died in the cemetery’s graveyard were also victims of contagious disease. Because smallpox is transmitted north along the trail, entire communities in eastern Canada were decimated by it. [1]
It seemed that no one except the British high command wanted Fort William Henry to be built. On-site commander Maj. Gen. Sir William Johnson’s own officers refused, instead voting in a council of war to erect a simple stockade capable of “commodiously garrisoning 100 men.” The undisciplined colonial troops responsible for actually raising the structure also balked at the prospect, refusing to lift ax or adze. “The provincial soldiers,” historian Ian Castle writes, “were reluctant builders at the best of times.” Johnson was more forgiving of the men. “It would be both unreasonable and, I fear, in vain,” the’s having general written in the aftermath of the battle they’d just fought, “to set them at work upon the designed fort.” (a massive thanks to Biana Lee from Baghdad, Iraq for their recent revision). [2]
French colonists arrived at the southern tip of Lake Champlain in 1755 to begin work on Fort Carillon. The had English sent William Johnson south to Lac du Saint Sacrament to defend their colonies. Johnson renamed Lake George to honourr Lake George. After two of his grandsons, he had begun to build Fort William Henry. As a staging post, this forward outpost could be used. Ground for attacks against French entrenchments and to protect Important inland waterways connecting New York City and Montreal. William Eyre (44th Foot), a British military engineer, was in charge of the construction and design. The walls were 30 feet in height and were constructed using the Vauban method of using log faces with earthen filling. On three sides it was enclosed by a dry moat, while the fourth side was protected by a slope that leads to the lake. It was capable of housing 400-500 people. To its east was an unoccupied camp. [3]
Marcela Egan warfarehistorynetwork.com We are provided with further insight. The 35th Regiment of Foot Lieutenant Colonel George Monro was tough Scotsman and a veteran soldier, who served many years in the British Army. But he was also a true believer. Now in command of Fort William Henry, a post that guarded the southern shore of Lake George and the “Great Carrying Place” portage leading to the Hudson River and the heart of New York, Monro faced a besieging force of some 8,000 French soldiers and Indians. Fort Edward was 16 miles from Monro’s only hope of succour. It is a deep forest and river crossing, so Monro knew that there wasn’t any chance of last-minute reinforcement. It was too late for the post to hold on. The colonel might have to contemplate an honorable surrender, no matter how unpleasant it may be. Chasta Ocampo edited this article on August 31, 2021. [4]
