and prevent the French from supporting their new
fortresses on the Ohio; to reduce Ticonderago and Crown Point, so
that the frontier of New York might be delivered from the danger of an
invasion, and Great Britain become master of the lake Champlain, over
which the forces might be transported in any future attempt; to besiege
fort Du Quesne upon the Ohio; and to detach a body of troops by the
river Kennebec, to alarm the capital of Canada. This plan was too
extensive for the number of troops which had been prepared; the season
was too far advanced before the regiments arrived from England, the
different colonies were divided in their opinions, and Mr. Abercrombie
postponed the execution of any important scheme till the arrival of
lord Loudon, who was daily expected. The reasons that delayed the
reinforcement, and detained his lordship so long, we do not pretend
to explain; though we may be allowed to observe, that many fair
opportunities have been lost, by the neglect and procrastination of
an English ministry. Certain it is, the unaccountable delay of this
armament rendered it useless for a whole year, afforded time and leisure
to the enemy to take their precautions against any subsequent attack,
and, in the meantime, to proceed unmolested in distressing the British
settlements. Even before this period, they had attacked and reduced a
small post in the country of the Five Nations, occupied by twenty-five
Englishmen, who were cruelly butchered to a man, in the midst of those
Indians whom Great Britain had long numbered among her allies.

Soon after this expedition, having received intelligence that a
considerable convoy of provisions and stores, for the garrison of
Oswego, would in a little time set out from Schenectady, and be conveyed
in batteaux up the river Onondaga, they formed an ambuscade among the
woods and thickets on the north side of that river; but understanding
the convoy had passed before they reached the place, they resolved to
wait the return of the detachment. Their design, however, was frustrated
by the vigilance and valour of colonel Bradstreet, who expected such
an attempt, and had taken his measures accordingly. On the third day of
July, while he stemmed the stream of the river, with his batteaux formed
into three divisions, they were saluted with the Indian war-hoop, and
a general discharge of musketry from the north shore. Bradstreet
immediately ordered his men to land on the opposite bank, and wit