| |
New York State History Stories from the French & Indian War
or Revolutionary War
About the middle of June, 1609, Champlain left for the exploration of
the heard of lake and with agreement with his Indian, allies to help him fight the Iroquois; they having great reliance upon the deadly efficiency of the arquebuses of the
French, the first firearms they had ever seen, and which they considered some necromancy of thunderbolts. read more...
IN the year 1754 a comprehensive plan was formulated by the English to drive the French from America. The first move in this general plan, that of General Braddock, Commander-in-Chief, against Fort Duquesne, was a sanguinary failure, even as mitigated by the bravery and skill of the then young Colonel Washington. Braddock's defeat so discouraged General Shirley that his expedition against Fort Niagara was abandoned. read more...
September 8th, 1755, was a day of three
desperate and bloody battles, fought within a few miles between Glens Falls and Lake
George – important engagements, even viewed from the present. This territory, known
as the "Great Carry," a land break in the waterways of the Hudson River. Lakes George
and Champlain, and the St. Lawrence, was
strategic territory and a bloody fighting
ground for ages, probably, between Indian
war parties: all though the seventy years'
struggle between England and France for
the possession of a continent and fought to
a conclusion within this region; and afterward. during the Revolution. No part of
America is richer in historic incident and interest than the region of this natural route
between the Hudson and the St. Lawrence. read more...
In March, 1757, a French expedition marched on the frozen lake to surprise and
capture Fort William Henry, then commanded by Captain Eyre, an engineer officer who
had escaped from Braddock's defeat and who ably served the artillery in the Battle of
Lake George. read more...
In March, 1758, Israel Putnam returned to Fort Edward from an uneventful scouting, when Rogers was at once sent out with 180 men on an aggressive mission. read more...
Twenty-six-year-old Captain Robert Rogers had marched with 200 men for three days from Fort Edward north, along Lake George. read more...
In 1758 the French held Ticonderoga, by them called Carillon, at the foot of the
Lake, and the territory north, while the English held the head of the Lake and the territory south. read more...
Under Abercrombie was the
famous " Black Watch," the 42nd,
and for valor at Ticonderoga designated by King George II. the
"Royal Highland Regiment." This
regiment, conspicuous in all of
England's wars for 170 years,
fought the fiercest of its many
battles at this time, with a loss
quite equal to that of any single
regiment in any single engagement
of history. read more...
To oppose one of these marauding expeditions of some 500 French and Indians, a Fort Edward force of 600 or 700 went out under the noted partisan ranger, Rogers: Major Putnam went with them. Marching in single file by a narrow woods path, Putnam leading, they suddenly came under fire of the hidden enemy. read more...
The year 1777 was probably the most perilous period in the "beginning of the
nation," and marked one of the great crises of the world's history. Early in
this year General John Burgoyne succeeded Carleton in Canadian command, and soon entered upon that memorable campaign against the vital
center of the colonies – New York's great confluence of waterways,
Lakes Champlain and George and the' Hudson and Mohawk Rivers. read more...
JANE McCREA, "the beautiful betrothed maiden of the Hudson," seems to have been selected by Providence as a sacrifice to arouse the drooping spirit of Liberty in the midsummer of 1777. read more...
So called because midway between Forts Edward and William Henry. From 1755
to 1780 it was the scene of many bloody skirmishes, surprises and ambushes. Here the
French and Indians inflicted two horrible massacres, one in the summer of 1756 and the
other in July, 1758. read more... |
