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CHAP. The French, in their Account of this Action, say, VI. that the Men, though they appeared to be as little difciplined as Men could be, behaved with great Bravery, but that Sir William's Conduct was fuch, that, if he had been in Concert with them, he could not have done more to ruin the Enterprize; yet his Fidelity was never fufpected. In fhort, this Defcent was fo ill managed, that the English got on Board again in the Night, with the Lofs of all the Cannon and Baggage which they had landed.

The French thought themfelves in fuch great Danger at that Time, that they attributed their Deliverance to the most immediate Protection of Heaven, in confounding the Devices of their Enemy, and by depriving them of common Senfe; and for this Reafon the People of Quebeck make an annual Proceffion, in Commemoration of this Deliver

ance.

Sir William cannonaded the Town for fome Time with little Execution, and then returned in Haft, Winter approaching; indeed that Seafon was already fo far advanced, that he loft eight Veffels in his Return,

The Five Nations continued their Incurfions all along St. Laurence River, from Montreal to Quebeck, and carried away many Scalps. At one Time a French Officer, with thirty eight Men, surprised Tome of the Five Nations in a Cabin, which they had built near Lake St. Piere. Some of them efcaped and informed two other Cabins, which the French had not discovered, and they returned with their Companions, and killed the Captain and Lieutenant, and one half of the Men.

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Notwithstanding that the French preferved their Country, thefe warlike Expeditions, and the Neceffity they were under of being on their Guard, prevented their cultivating the Ground, or of reaping the Fruit of what they had fowed or planted. This

occafioned

occafioned a Famine in Canada, and, to increase the Mifery of the poor Inhabitants, they were forced to feed the Soldiers gratis, while their own Children wanted Bread.

In October the Onondagas, Cayugas, and Oneydoes came to Albany, to condole with the English, for the Men loft in the Expedition against Montreal, as they had already done with the Mohawks. They faid it was ever their Cuftom to condole with their Friends when they loft any Number of Men in Battle, though they had the Victory. They at the fame Time, as they had often done before, complained of the Dearness of Powder: Why, fay they, do you call us your King's Soldiers, when you will not fell us Powder at the ufual and reasonable Rates?

And in answer to a Complaint, of there not being a fufficient Number of English fent against Montreal, the People of Albany upbraided them with a Breach of Promife, in not fending that Party down Cadarackui River which they promifed, which they faid was the chief Reason of the want of Success in that Expedition.

CHAP. VII.

The French and the Five Nations continue the
War all Winter with various Succefs. The
French burn a Captain of the Five Nations
alive.

THE

HE old French Governor kept up his Vi-CHA P. gour and Spirits wonderfully, no Fatigue VII. made him ever think of Reft. He knew of what Use it would be to convince the Five Nations, that the joint Attack of the English and Indians had neither weakened him, nor frightened him from carrying on the War with as much Vigour as before.

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CHA P. It was abfolutely neceffary that the Utawawas and VII. other Western Indians, who came to Montreal to trade, fhould return fafe to their own Country, otherwise there would be an End to the French Trade with thofe Nations, upon which the Being of Canada depends; for it is only by the Fur-trade with these Nations that they make Returns to Europe; and if these Nations did not return in Time, all the Western Indians would look on the French as loft, and confequently would make Peace with the Five Nations, and perhaps join in the Destruction of Canada.

Captain la Fereft, with one hundred and ten Men, was fent to conduct the Utawawas Home; he carried with him confiderable Prefents fent by the King of France, to confirm thefe Nations in the French Intereft.

Two Indian Prifoners, taken at la Prairie, were given to the Utawawas, and carried with them, to confirm the Stories they were to tell of their Succeffes against the English and Five Nations. These poor Men were there burnt alive; and if I fhould add, that it was done by French Inftigation, what I fhall relate by and by will clear me of the want of Charity. I believe it was fo, in Order to rivet the Hatred between thefe People and the Five Nations.

The Five Nations continued their Incurfions all Winter on Canada. Forty of the Mohawks fell upon Fort Vercheres, and carried off twenty of the Inhabitants; but the Alarm reaching Montreal, Mr. de Crizaei, with one hundred Men of the regular Troops, was fent in pursuit of them, who recovered most of the Prifoners.

The Count de Frontenac being informed, that a confiderable Party of the Five Nations hunted Bever on the Neck of Land between Cadarackui Lake and Lake Erie, with great Security, refolved to give

them

them a better Opinion of the Strength and Courage CHA P. of the French. For this Purpose he fent three hun- VII. dred and twelve Men to furprise them, under the Command of Mr. Beaucour, a young Gentleman. The Praying Indians of Montreal were of the Party. This Expedition being in the Winter, they were obliged to undergo cruel Fatigues, while they marched on the Snow with fnow Shoes, and carried all their Provifion on their Backs. Several of the French had their Feet frozen, which obliged fifteen to return, with some old Indians, that could not bear the Fatigue; and it was with much Difficulty that Beaucour could perfuade the reft to continue their March. After a March to a fúrprizing Distance, at that Season of the Year, they surprised eighty of the Five Nations, who notwithstanding made a brave Defence, and did not run before they left most of their Men dead on the Spot. Three Women were made Prifoners, with whom the French. immediately turned back to Montreal. Some ftragling Parties went towards Albany, but did no more Mischief than killing two or three ftragling Perfons, and alarming the Country.

The Trade to Mfilimakinak being fill intirely ftopt, by the Parties of the Five Nations investing Cadarackui River, by which, and Cadarackui Lake, the Paffage in Canoes is made to the Western Indians, Captain la Noue, with a Command of the regular Troops, was ordered early in the Spring to guard the Traders through that Paffage; but when he reached the Falls de Calumette, he difcovered the Enemy, and returned faster than he went.

La Noue had Orders a fecond Time to attempt this Paffage, and went as far as the River du Lievre (thirty Leagues from Montreal) without any ObAtruction; but there difcovering feveral Canoes of the Five Nations, he went back as fast as before.

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CHAP. The Quatogbies and the Bullheads

having inVII. formed the French of another fmaller River, which falls into Cadarackui River, and runs to the Northward of it, by which a Paffage might be made to the Lakes, it was refolved to attempt this Paffage, though it were much farther round, and more dangerous, there being many more rapid Falls in that River. Three Officers, with thirty Soldiers, were fent with the Traders for this Purpose, but a Party of the Five Nations meeting with them in the long Fall, before they reached this River, they were all killed or taken, except four that escaped back to Montreal.

A confiderable Party of the Five Nations, under the Command of Blackkettle, a famous Hero, continued a long Time on Cadarackui River, in hopes of meeting with other French Parties, in their Paffage towards Miffilimakinak; but finding that no Attempts were made that Way, he refolved to make an Irruption into the Country round Montreal. The French fay he had fix hundred Men with him; but they usually increase the Number of their Enemies, in the Relation they give of thefe Tranfactions, either to excuse their Fears, or to increase their Glory.

it.

Blackkettle overrun the Country (to ufe the French Expreffion) as a Torrent does the Low-lands, when it overflows its Banks, and there is no withstanding The Soldiers had Orders to ftand upon the defenfive within their Forts. Mr. de Vaudreuil purfued this Party (after they had burnt and ravaged the whole Country) at the Head of four hundred Men; he overtook them and furprised them. The Five Nations fought defperately, though the fame Author, at this Place, makes them no more than two hundred Men. After they had loft twenty Men on the Spot, they broke through the French, and marched off. The French loft four Officers

*The Bullbeads are faid to be cowardly People.

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