h a
few of the foremost took possession of a small island, where he was
forthwith attacked by a party of the enemy, who had forded the river for
that purpose; but these were soon repulsed. Another body having passed
a mile higher, he advanced to them at the head of two hundred men, and
fell upon them, sword in hand, with such vigour, that many were killed
on the spot, and the rest driven into the water with such precipitation
that a considerable number of them were drowned. Having received
information that a third body of them had passed at a ford still higher,
he marched thither without hesitation, and pursued them to the other
side, where they were entirely routed and dispersed. In this action,
which lasted near three hours, about seventy of the batteau-men were
killed or wounded, but the enemy lost double the number killed, and
above seventy taken prisoners. In all probability the whole detachment
of the French, amounting to seven hundred men, would have been cut off
had not a heavy rain interposed, and disabled colonel Bradstreet from
following his blow; for that same night he was joined by captain Patten
with his grenadiers, in his march from Oneida to Oswego, and next
morning reinforced with two hundred men, detached to his assistance from
the garrison of Oswego; but by this time the rivulets were so swelled
by the rain, that it was found impracticable to pursue the enemy through
the woods and thickets. Patten and his grenadiers accompanied
the detachment to Oswego, while Bradstreet pursued his voyage to
Schenectady, from whence he repaired to Albany, and communicated to
general Abercrombie the intelligence he had received from the prisoners,
that a large body of the enemy were encamped on the eastern side of
the lake Ontario, provided with artillery, and all other implements, to
besiege the fort of Oswego.

EARL OF LOUDON ARRIVES AT NEW YORK.

In consequence of this information, major-general Webb was ordered to
hold himself in readiness to march with one regiment to the relief of
that garrison; but, before they could be provided with necessaries,
the earl of Loudon arrived at the head-quarters at Albany, on the
twenty-ninth day of July. The army at this time is said to have
consisted of regular troops to the number of two thousand six hundred,
about seven thousand provincials, supposed to be in readiness to march
from fort William-Henry, under the command of general Winslow, over and
above a considerable