of 700 men, was not permitted to
advance. Montcalm, as energetic, able, and enterprising as his
opponents were indecisive, with 8,000 regulars, Canadians, and Indians,
made a rapid descent upon Oswego, at the south-east side of Lake
Ontario, and captured it. Sixteen hundred men, one hundred and twenty
pieces of cannon, fourteen mortars, two ships of war, and two hundred
boats and batteaux, fell into the conqueror's hands. Lord Loudon, prone
to inactivity, instead of vigorously pushing forward upon Crown Point,
to retrieve this great disaster, made the disaster an excuse for
relinquishing the enterprise. The failure of the campaign of '56 much
annoyed the British Parliament and people, and great preparations were
made in the following year to prosecute the war to a successful issue.
It was in vain, while Lord Loudon was in command of the colonial army.
A fleet of eleven ships of the line, and fifty transports, with more
than six thousand troops, arrived at Halifax, for the reduction of
Louisbourg, and Lord Loudon ordered a large body of troops, designed to
march upon Ticonderoga and Crown Point, to co-operate. But so dilatory
was his Lordship, that before the expedition from Halifax was ready to
sail, a French fleet of 17 sail had arrived at Louisbourg, with
reinforcements, making the garrison nine thousand strong--and this fine
specimen of a hereditary commander deemed it inexpedient to proceed,
and abandoned the expedition. Montcalm, again profitting by the
weakness and indecision of his adversaries, made a descent on Fort
William Henry, situated on the north shore of Lake George, with nine
thousand men. The fort, garrisoned by three thousand men, was commanded
by Colonel Munroe, who obstinately defended it. Nay, had it not been
for the silly indifference of General Webb, who was in command of Fort
Edward, which was within only fifteen miles of Fort William Henry, and
was garrisoned by 4,000 men, the French General might have been unable
to make any impression upon it. But Webb, although solicited by his
second in command, Sir William Johnston, to suffer his troops to march
to the rescue, first hesitated, next granted permission, and then drew
back. In six days the garrison surrendered, Munroe and his troops being
admitted to an honorable capitulation. Reverses such as these,
involving great misery, inasmuch as the Indians too frequently
butchered their prisoners in cold blood, could not fail to have an
effect upon a mi