Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/260

236 was killed, as was also Hendrick, the old sachem. Dieskau next advanced to attack Johnson's camp, which, protected by its location, and fortified by some cannon, brought up from Fort Edward, withstood the attack. Dieskau was mortally wounded, and taken prisoner, and his men fled to Crown Point. The French are said to have lost a thousand men, the English three hundred. A party of New Hampshire troops encountered the baggage of Dieskau's army, and captured it. These three actions, fought on the same day, are known as the battle of Lake George. Johnson received knighthood, and a parliamentary grant of £5,000; and the colonists looked upon the affair as a great victory.

Johnson did not, however, as seemed to be expected of him, advance against Crown Point. The New Englanders charged him with incapacity, and lack of energy, but, alleging the want of provisions and means of transportation, he accomplished no more than the building of Fort William Henry, near the late field of battle, and disbanded his troops for the winter.

The frontiers of Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, were exposed, by Dunbar's inglorious retreat, to incursions from, the Indians under French influence. Governor Morris, of Pennsylvania, urged the Assembly to make provision for the defence of the frontiers; but that body had some private disputes to settle, in regard to taxing the proprietary estates, and also professed the usual Quaker scruples against war, which hindered their proper attention to the governor's request. In November, however, they voted some £50,000 for public defence, which led to the resignation of several of the Quaker members of the Assembly.

In Virginia, the Assembly voted £40,000 in taxes, and issued treasury notes to that amount. To Washington, for his gallant conduct at Braddock's defeat, £300 were voted, with gratuities to the other officers and the privates. The Virginia regiment was reorganized, and he himself was placed at its head, with Stephens as lieutenant-colonel. About the middle of September, Washington repaired to Winchester, where he fixed his head quarters; but, during the next winter, he was compelled to make a journey to Boston, to obtain a decision from Shirley as to some vexed points of precedence and military rank.

The year 1755 closed with little