In June, 1757, Loudoun went to Halifax, and collected there an army of 10,000 men. He spent most of the summer in drilling them, and then was deterred from attacking Louisburg, as he had intended, by the intelligence that the French fleet contained one more ship than his own. He soon left his parade-ground, and returned to New York.

247. While the English commander was thus trifling, the governor of Canada was drawing the Iroquois and other northern Indians into an alliance. A grand army of French and savages, with Montcalm at its head, advanced towards the forts on the English frontier. Several minor successes were gained, and the Indians, always desirous of making good their escape when they have struck a blow, were eager to return. Montcalm remonstrated with them, and, producing the great war-belt of 6,000 shells, which bound them to remain till the expedition was completed, declared that his great object, the reduction of Fort William Henry, was still unaccomplished. The Red Men were at last persuaded; and on the 2d of August, 1757, 6,000 Frenchmen and 1,700 Indians invested the fort. It was defended by the intrepid Col. Monro, with 2,200 men.

To Montcalm's summons to surrender, Monro returned an answer of defiance, hoping for aid from Gen. Webb, who lay encamped at Fort Edward, only 14 miles off, with 4,000 men. Instead of advancing to the rescue, Webb wrote Monro a letter advising him to surrender. Still the gallant veteran held out, till his ammunition was nearly exhausted, and half his guns had burst. He then felt it his duty to capitulate on the honorable terms proposed by the French commander. One of the conditions was a safe escort to Fort Edward. But, when the retreat commenced, the faithless Indians, incited by the hope of plunder, fell on the ill-fated

true state of the case? What did Loudoun do in June, 1757? Give an account of his movements at Halifax. 247. Meanwhile, what was the governor of Canada doing? What expedition did he undertake? What did the Indians want to do? How did Montcalm dissuade them from their purpose? How many men invested Fort William Henry? [See Map, p. 169. Where was Fort William Henry ?] By whom was it defended? To whom did Monro look for aid? What message did he receive from Webb? How long did he hold out? On what terms did he finally surrender? What happened

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English. Despite the efforts of Montcalm and his officers, a general massacre ensued. Only a part of the army reached Fort Edward in safety. Webb, as long as he was secure in his camp, cared little for the honor of his country or the safety of his comrades. Loudoun proposed fixing his quarters on Long Island, and thought that would be a sufficient defence for the continent. At the close of 1757, the French possessions in America exceeded in extent those of the English as twenty to one.

248. In the summer of 1757, the weakness of the English ministry had become apparent, and Pitt, a man of the people, and the wisest of modern statesmen, was intrusted with the management of affairs. America was his first care. The imbecile Loudoun was recalled. The colonies were requested to raise troops, with the promise that the expense would be refunded; and their officers were allowed the same rank as British officers of their respective grades. New life was infused into every branch of the service. The American people had the highest confidence in Pitt, and new armies were soon enlisted.

Three expeditions were projected by the English. Amherst and Wolfe were to besiege Louisburg; Lord Howe and Ab-er-crom'-bie, to attack Crown Point and Ticonderoga; and Gen. Forbes was to advance upon Fort Du Quesne and the Ohio valley.

249. The first of these expeditions was entirely successful. The French commander surrendered the fort, and 5,637 prisoners were sent to England. The British took possession of the whole of Cape Bret'-on and Prince Edward's Island. Abandoning Louisburg, they made Halifax their capital and stronghold in the northeast.

250. The second expedition was undertaken by the largest army that had yet marched through the forests of America.

on the retreat? What is said of Webb and Loudoun ? At the close of 1757, how did the French and English possessions in America compare in extent? 248. What change was made in the British ministry in the summer of 1757? What first engaged Pitt's attention? What action did he take in American affairs? Enumerate the three expeditions that were projected. 249. What was the result of the first expedition? 250. What is said of the army engaged in the second expedition? How many men embarked for

On the 5th of July, 1758, 9,000 provincial troops and 6,000 British regulars embarked in a thousand boats on the shore of Lake George, for the strong French fort at Ticonderoga, held by Montcalm with about 3,600 men. The young and popular Howe was unfortunately killed in an encounter with a party of French just as he reached the scene of action, and the sole command thus devolved on the incompetent Aber crombie. An attack on the French lines was unwisely or dered before the artillery had been brought into action. It was conducted with unsurpassed intrepidity, but as bravely repulsed by Montcalm, who had every advantage of position. The English army lost nearly 2,000 in killed and wounded; and Abercrombie, who had taken care to keep out of danger during the assault, retreated to the head of the lake, and sent his artillery and stores to Albany. Nothing was effected during the remainder of the campaign but the capture and destruction of Fort Frontenac and some armed vessels on Lake Ontario, by a detachment under Gen. Bradstreet.

251. The third expedition owed its success solely to Washington. Contrary to his advice, General Forbes, instead of following Braddock's route, commenced a new road to Fort Du Quesne. His progress was slow, and 300 of his men were cut off by an ambuscade. On this, it was resolved to abandon the expedition for the season; but Washington, having satisfied himself of the weakness of the fort by the accounts of deserters, obtained the general's permission to proceed against it alone with his Virginia Rangers. The French, on his approach, set fire to the works, and fled down the Ohio. Washington raised his country's flag over the smoking ruins (Nov. 25, 1758), and changed the name of the place to Pittsburg, in honor of the great Pitt. Intrusting its defence to a company of his rangers, he returned to his native state, already illustrious by his achievements, though

Ticonderoga? By whom was this post held? What befell Lord Howe? On whom did the sole command then devolve? Give an account of Abercrombie's operations. What was their result? What was the British loss? What was Abercrombie's next movement? What was effected during the remainder of the campaign? 251. To whom is the success of the third expedition attributable? What course was pursued by Gen. Forbes? What was the advice of Washington? How was the fort finally taken? What

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not yet twenty-seven years of age. He was received with distinguished honor, and elected to the House of Burgesses, where he commenced his career as a statesman. Meanwhile Abercrombie was recalled, and General Amherst was ap pointed commander-in-chief of the army and governor of Virginia.

CHAPTER XXXIII.

FRENCH AND INDIAN WAR (CONTINUED).—CAMPAIGNS OF 1759-1760.

252. ALIVE to the importance of prosecuting the war in the new world with vigor, Pitt zealously prepared for the campaign of 1759. A well-digested plan of operations was arranged, which there seemed little prospect that Montcalm, left unsupported by the French government, his province already exhausted of men and resources, could successfully oppose. Gen. Stanwix was ordered to reduce the country between Pittsburg and Lake Erie; Prideaux [pre-do'], to take Niagara. Ticonderoga was assigned to Gen. Amherst; and Wolfe [woolf] was to attack Quebec. The first two of these expeditions were successful, though at the siege of Niagara Prideaux was killed. On the approach of Amherst, the French abandoned Ticonderoga and descended Lake Champlain. It was expected that the commander would then march to the north and aid in reducing Canada; but, delaying, unnecessarily, he left this difficult enterprise entirely to the intrepid Wolfe.

253. The strength of Quebec was well known, and a powerful armament assembled at Louisburg for its attack. Twenty-two ships-of-the-line and an equal number of smaller vessels, containing 8,000 men and a vast amount of stores

followed? Where did Washington then go? How was he received and rewarded? What change was made in the command of the British army?

252. What was the plan of operations for 1759, on the part of the British? What was Montcalm's condition? What was the result of the first expedition? What, of the second? What, of the third? 253. Where did the force intended for Quebec assem

and ammunition, reached the Isle of Orleans, opposite Quebec, on the 26th of June, 1759 [see Map, p. 216]. Opposed to this powerful array was the renowned Montcalm, in a fortress deemed impregnable, with a force superior in number to the English, though no match for them in spirit or discipline.

After reconnoitring the harbor, and erecting a battery a Point Levi, opposite the city, which destroyed the lower town, though unable to reach the citadel, Wolfe chose and fortified a position on the east bank of the Montmorenci [mont-mo-ren'-se]. A continuous ledge of rocks, defended by batteries on every side, guarded Montcalm's intrenchments. The only practicable point of attack appeared to be the French camp on the opposite side of the Montmorenci. A violent assault was made, but the English were repulsed with the loss of 400 men.

The months of July and August passed, and still nothing was accomplished. Left unsupported through the culpable inactivity of Amherst, Wolfe found his most strenuous efforts baffled by the strength of the fortress and the vigilance of its commander. Aware that the eyes of the whole English people were upon him, and thirsting for military glory, he resolved that the season should not pass without a decisive conflict. Three desperate plans of assault he submitted to his council of officers, but all were rejected. As a last resort, it was proposed to effect a landing above the city, and by ascending to the Plains of Abraham to force Montcalm to an engagement. A close inspection of the side of the cliff revealed a narrow path, which seemed, from the tents on the top, to be guarded by no more than a hundred men. If these could be surprised, the whole army might ascend in safety. The undertaking was desperate; but there was a

ble? Of how many men and ships did it consist? When did they reach the scene of action? [See Map, p. 216.-How is Quebec situated? In what direction from it is Point Levi?] Describe Montcalm's position. What were Wolfe's first movements? How were the French intrenchments defended? Give an account of the first attack. By what were Wolfe's efforts baffled? What resolve did he form? How many plans of assault did he submit? What was proposed, as a last resort? What means vas How was it guarded? What night was fixed upor for

there of ascending the cliff?