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Michigan CHAPTER Nine Final Success of the English
But in spite of this set back the feeling in the English colonies was that the tide of fortune had turned against the French and that the English arms must ultimately triumph. Pitt was determined to drive the French out of America at any cost. Plans of great importance were formed in 1759. Parliament was solicited to meet the expenses of a comprehensive campaign with liberal grants. It promptly voted two hundred thousand pounds to compensate the American colonies for their expenses in levying and maintaining troops. Twelve millions were provided for the general service of the year and an immense armament, both by sea and land was prepared. The plan of campaign placed General Amherst in chief command. To him was assigned the task of reducing Fort Ticonderoga and Crown Point. Wolfe was put in charge of an army which was to ascend the St. Lawrence as soon as the river was free from ice and to besiege Quebec. The third army was to be made up chiefly of provincials and to be commanded by General Prideaux. It was to be strengthened by a large body of friendly Indians under Sir William Johnson. The duty of this army was to capture Fort Niagara and thus secure full control of the lake region. Amherst, after the capture of Ticonderoga and Crown Point, was to proceed down Lake
Champlain and the Richelieu river to form a junction with the army under Wolfe. Prideaux, after the capture of Niagara, was to proceed down Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence and capture Montreal and finally to unite his forces with those of Amherst and Wolfe. It is said that this scheme was elaborated by Pitt himself, and that in choosing men for commands he was influenced by no considerations of seniority, but solely by his judgment of military ability.
Michigan
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