purposed landing, which was next day
effected without opposition. The general's design was to invest:
Ticonderoga, a fort situated on a tongue of land, extending between
lake George and a narrow gut that communicates with lake Champlain. This
fortification was on three sides surrounded with water, and in
front nature had secured it with a morass. The English troops being
disembarked, were immediately formed into three columns, and began
their march to the enemy's advanced post, consisting of one battalion,
encamped behind a breast-work of logs, which they now abandoned with
precipitation, after having set them on fire, and burned their tents and
implements. The British forces continued their march in the same order;
but the route lying through a thick wood that did not admit of any
regular progression or passage, and the guides proving extremely
ignorant, the troops were bewildered, and the columns broken by falling
in one upon another. Lord Howe being advanced at the head of the right
centre column, encountered a French detachment who had likewise lost
their way in the retreat from the advanced post, and a warm skirmish
ensuing, the enemy were routed with considerable loss, a good number
were killed, and one hundred and forty-eight were taken prisoners,
including five officers. This petty advantage was dearly bought
with the loss of lord Howe, who fell in the beginning of the action,
unspeakably regretted as a young nobleman of the most promising talents,
who had distinguished himself in a peculiar manner by his courage,
activity, and rigid observation of military discipline, and had acquired
the esteem and affection of the soldiery by his generosity, sweetness
of manners, and engaging address. The general perceiving the troops
were greatly fatigued and disordered, from want of rest and refreshment,
thought it advisable to march back to the landing-place, which they
reached about eight in the morning. Then he detached lieutenant-colonel
Bradstreet, with one regular regiment, six companies of the Royal
Americans, with the batteaux-men, and a body of rangers, to take
possession of a saw-mill in the neighbourhood of Ticonderoga, which the
enemy had abandoned. This post being secured, the general advanced again
towards Ticonderoga, where, he understood from the prisoners, the enemy
had assembled eight battalions, with a body of Canadians and Indians,
amounting in all to six thousand. These, they said, being encamped
before