|
Michigan Chapter Eight Border Wars of the Colonists
Thereupon Johnson thought it prudent to wait for reinforcements. This meant a long delay for sending out to each colony an urgent request to increase its force in the field. While Johnson lay at Lake George awaiting fresh levies, Dieskau prepared to surprise him. The French forces did not tarry at Crown Point but pushed on to Ticonderoga. The Indian allies were under the command of Legardeur de Saint Pierre and they were a turbulent and troublesome annex to the army. Leaving a part of his force at Ticonderoga, Dieskau hastened on with the rest to effect his contemplated surprise. He seems to have been aware his force was greatly inferior to the English in numbers. Johnson had twenty-two hundred effective men and three hundred Indians; the French numbered about fifteen hundred all told, including six hundred Indians. The English had full knowledge of the approach of the enemy and set out to meet
him. The Indians in Dieskau's command prepared an ambuscade into which the English fell and suffered its principal loss of life. The latter rallied, however, and later in the day when attacked by the French retrieved their fortunes. Dieskau was seriously wounded and captured, and his entire force was put to rout. Johnson was himself wounded but not seriously. Ephraim Williams was killed at the first onslaught. The English loss was two hundred and sixty-two in killed and wounded and missing; the French loss was slightly less.
Johnson did not follow up his success. He was urged by his officers to push on to Ticonderoga, but he appears to have been overwhelmed by timidity and apprehended a renewal of the French attack. In spite of the success of the English in the Lake George engagement, the Crown Point campaign was a failure. After lingering in the camp until the snows of winter began to make things uncomfortable to the men who were supplied with only summer clothing, and after holding various councils of war in which it was declared inexpedient to proceed, Johnson and his army made their way back to Albany. Thence the men dispersed to their homes.
Michigan
Page 7
|
|
Please consider making a donation to help offset expenses to keep this site online.
Thank you
|
