Page:History of the United States of America, Spencer, v1.djvu/262

238 increased energy infused into the movements of the French by' the arrival of a new commander-in-chief. Louis Joseph, Marqnis de Montcalm de St. Veran, was born at the Chateau de Caudiac, near Nismes, in 1712, of a family illustrious not only for its extraction, but for its prowess. Though, destined for the profession of arms, he had received so excellent an education, that he ever afterwards retained a taste for scientific and literary pursuits, and had his career not been suddenly terminated, would have been chosen a member of the French Academy. And before he was chosen as commander-in-chief of the French armies in North America, he had distinguished himself in many a. gallant encounter. Such was the general who now arrived at Quebec with a large reinforcement of troops, and who, after sustaining the honor of the French arms with unexampled success, fell gloriously on the field of battle, and is associated with Wolfe in an enduring monument of fame and renown.

With the exception of Armstrong's successful attack upon Kittaning, the principal town of the Indians on the Allegany River, the whole of the season passed away without any results of moment. Sickness caused many and severe losses; the regulars went into winter quarters: and London's greatest exploit was frightening the citizens of New York into obedience to his demand for gratuitous quarters for his officers.

At the beginning of the next year, 1757, a council was held at Boston, and it was concluded to defend the frontiers, and send an expedition against Louisburg. New England was called on for four thousand men, and New York and New Jersey for two thousand. In Pennsylvania the Quaker Assembly voted a levy of £100,000, waiving for the present the tax on the proprietary estates; they protested, however, that they did this under compulsion, and sent Franklin to England as agent to urge their complaints. Washington, in Virginia, did what he could in the way of defence, but it was plain that so long as Fort Duquesne was in the hands of the French, no effectual defence could be maintained on the frontier. Further south there were troubles likewise with the Indians but not to any great extent.

Early in July, Lord Loudon sailed from New York with six thousand regulars, and was joined at Halifax by a fleet of eleven sail of the line, under Admiral Holbome, with six thousand additional soldiers on board. But again Loudon was too late; seventeen French ships of the line entered the harbor of Louisburg, and with the strong garrison there, it was useless to attack it with such a force as he had at the time: all that he could do was to return to New York.

Montcalm, with characteristic energy, determined to strike a heavy blow while Loudon was engaged against Louisburg. Ascending Lake George, with a force of eight thousand men, he laid siege to Fort William Henry, where Colonel Monro was in command with two thousand troops. Webb was at Fort Edward, fourteen miles distant, with four thousand men. The attack was pressed with vigor: the