re the camp then was, in order
to secure a communication with Albany, from whence only the troops could
expect to be reinforced, or supplied with fresh stores of ammunition
or provisions. They therefore set out upon their return soon after this
engagement, having first erected a little stockaded fort, at the hither
end of Lake George, in which they left a small garrison, as a future
prey for the enemy; a misfortune which might easily have been foreseen,
because this whole army being country militia, was to be disbanded, and
return to their respective homes, as they actually did soon after their
retreat to Albany. This was all the glory, this all the advantage, that
the English nation acquired by such an expensive expedition. But so
little had the English been accustomed of late to hear of victory, that
they rejoiced at this advantage, as if it had been an action of the
greatest consequence. The general was highly applauded for his conduct,
and liberally rewarded; for he was created a baronet by his majesty, and
presented with five thousand pounds by the parliament.

DESCRIPTION OF FORT OSWEGO, &c

The preparations for general Shirley's expedition against Niagara, were
not only deficient, but shamefully slow; though it was well known that
even the possibility of his success must, in a great measure, depend
upon his setting out early in the year, as will appear to any person who
considers the situation of our fort at Oswego, this being the only way
by which he could proceed to Niagara. Oswego lies on the south-east
side of the lake Ontario, near three hundred miles almost due west from
Albany in New York. The way to it from thence, though long and tedious,
is the more convenient, as the far greatest part of it admits of water
carriage, by what the inhabitants called batteaux, which are a kind of
light flat-bottomed boats, widest in the middle, and pointed at each
end, of about fifteen hundred weight burden, and managed by two men
called batteau-men, with paddles and setting poles, the rivers being in
many places too narrow to admit of oars. From Albany to the village of
Schenactady, about sixteen miles, is a good waggon road. From thence
to the little falls in the Mohawk-river, being sixty-five miles, the
passage is by water-carriage up that river, and consequently against
the stream, which in many places is somewhat rapid, and in others so
shallow, that, when the river is low, the watermen are obliged to get
out a