foot of it had a
desperate battle with a superior body of French and Indians. He reported
on his return one hundred and fourteen of his party as killed or
missing. Why he was not annihilated is a wonder. General Montcalm, in a
letter dated less than a month after the encounter, says: "Our Indians
would give no quarter; they have brought back one hundred and forty-six
scalps." For his intrepidity on this occasion he was presented by
General Abercrombie with the commission of Major of Rangers, before
alluded to.

The adroitness with which Rogers sometimes extricated himself from
extreme peril is illustrated by his conduct on one occasion, when
pursued by an overwhelming number of savages up the mountain, near the
south end of Lake George, which now bears his name. Upon reaching the
summit he advanced to the very verge of the precipice, on the east side,
which descends 550 feet to the lake. Having here reversed his snow shoes
he fled down the side opposite to that by which he had come up. Arriving
soon after the Indians, upon seeing the tracks of two men, apparently,
instead of one, and Rogers far below upon the ice, hastening towards
Fort Edward, concluded that he had slid down the precipice aided by the
Great Spirit, and that farther pursuit was vain.

Mr. Pitt proposed in the campaign of 1759 the entire conquest of Canada.
Bold as was the undertaking it was substantially accomplished.
Ticonderoga and Crown Point were abandoned in July, Fort Niagara
capitulated the same month, and Quebec was surrendered in September.

Their violation of a flag of truce in this last month now called
attention to the St. Francis Indians, who had been for a century the
terror of the New England frontiers, swooping down upon them when least
expected, burning their buildings, destroying their cattle, mercilessly
murdering their men, women, and children, or cruelly hurrying them away
into captivity. The time had now come for returning these bloody visits.
The proffering of this delicate attention was assigned by Major General
Amherst to Rogers. In his order, dated September 13, he says: "You are
this night to set out with the detachment, as ordered yesterday, viz.,
of 200 men, which you will take under your command and proceed to
Misisquey Bay, from whence you will march and attack the enemy's
settlements on the south side of the river St. Lawrence in such a manner
as you shall judge most effectual to disgrace the enemy, and for the
succes