of great importance, where vessels had been built to
cruise upon the lake, which is a kind of inland sea, and interrupt the
commerce as well as the motions and designs of the enemy. The garrison,
as we have already observed, consisted of fourteen hundred men, chiefly
militia and new-raised recruits, under the command of lieutenant-colonel
Mercer, an officer of courage and experience; but the situation of the
forts was very ill chosen; the materials mostly timber or logs of wood;
the defences wretchedly contrived and unfinished; and, in a word, the
place altogether untenable against any regular approach. Such were
the forts which the enemy wisely resolved to reduce. Being under
no apprehension for Crown Point, they assembled a body of troops,
consisting of thirteen hundred regulars, seventeen hundred Canadians,
and a considerable number of Indian auxiliaries, under the command of
the marquis de Montcalm, a vigilant and enterprising officer, to whom
the conduct of the siege was entrusted by the marquis de Vaudreuil,
governor and lieutenant-general of New France. The first step taken by
Montcalm was to block up Oswego by water with two large armed vessels,
and post a strong body of Canadians on the road between Albany and the
forts, to cut off all communication of succour and intelligence. In the
meantime he embarked his artillery and stores upon the lake, and landed
them in the bay of Nixouri, the place of general rendezvous. At another
creek, within half a league of Oswego, he erected a battery for
the protection of his vessels, and on the twelfth day of August, at
midnight, after his dispositions had been made, he opened the trenches
before fort Ontario. The garrison having fired away all their shells and
ammunition, spiked up the cannon, and deserting the fort, retired next
day across the river into Oswego, which was even more exposed than the
other, especially when the enemy had taken possession of Ontario, from
whence they immediately began to fire without intermission. Colonel
Mercer being on the thirteenth killed by a cannon ball, the fort
destitute of all cover, the officers divided in opinion, and the
garrison in confusion, they next day demanded a capitulation, and
surrendered prisoners of war, on condition that they should be exempted
from plunder, conducted to Montreal, and treated with humanity. These
conditions, however, the marquis did not punctually observe. The British
officers and soldiers were insulted b