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Michigan CHAPTER Nine Final Success of the English
There were also about two thousand friendly Indians who could be relied upon in case of need. This was a poor showing against the well equipped, well fed and disciplined forces of the English. Still Montcalm did not despair. While the outposts might not be held, he had hope that Quebec and Montreal would be able to maintain themselves until such time as France could come vigorously to their relief.
Early in the spring of 1759 Amherst moved northward from New York, where he had landed, and by the middle of July had reached Ticonderoga with a force
of nearly six thousand regulars and an almost equal number of provincials. The French seeing that they were attacked by overwhelming numbers, after a feeble resistance, dismantled and blew up the fort and withdrew to Crown Point. After stopping to rehabilitate the fort and to equip and garrison it Amherst pushed on with some deliberation to Crown Point. Here he found the works abandoned, the army having moved down Lake Champlain to Isle aux Noix, an almost impregnable island at the entrance to the river, where they determined to make a stand. In order to attack this position Amherst found it necessary to provide a navy. This involved delay and it was late in October before the army was ready to move. Then came the storms which rendered lake navigation practically impossible, with the kind of vessels they had been able to provide. The icy blasts from the north reminded the men of the approach of winter. So reluctantly Amherst gave up the project of capturing Isle aux Noix and turned his face to the southward for a more congenial resting place until spring. Nothing had really been accomplished.
In the meantime Prideaux set forth on his expedition against Fort Niagara with a force of five thousand regulars and provincials.
Michigan
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