Rogers' Rock, Lake George, March 13, 1758: A Battle Fought on Snow ShoesRogers, Mary Cochrane
History
Rogers' Rock, Lake George, March 13, 1758: A Battle Fought on Snow Shoes
Rogers, Mary Cochrane
Rogers' Rangers; Rogers, Robert, 1731-1795; United States -- History -- French and Indian War, 1754-1763 -- Regimental histories
reason to hope our difficulties were almost past; but we
knew not we had enemies yet to combat with, more cruel than
the savages we had escaped. We marched all night, and on the
morning of the 14th found ourselves entirely unacquainted
with the ice. Here we saw a man, who came towards us; he was
the servant of Capt. Rogers, with whom he had been often
times all over the country, and, without the least
hesitation whatsoever, he informed us we were upon
South-Bay; that Wood-Creek was just before us; that he knew
the way to Fort Anne extremely well, and would take us to
Fort Edward the next day. Notwithstanding we were
disappointed in our hopes of being upon Lake George, we
thought ourselves fortunate in meeting such a guide, to whom
we gave entire confidence, and which he in fact confirmed,
by bringing us to a creek, where he shewed the tracks of
Indians, and the path he said they had taken to Fort Anne.
After struggling thro' the snow some hours, we were obliged
to halt to make snow-shoes, as Mr. ---- and the guide had
left theirs at arriving upon the ice. Here we remained all
night, without any blankets, no coat, and but a single
waistcoat each, for I gave one of mine to Mr. ----, who had
laid aside his green jacket in the field, as I did likewise
my furred cap, which became a mark to the enemy, and
probably was the cause of a slight wound in my face; so that
I had but a silk handkerchief on my head, and our fire
could not be large, as we had nothing to cut wood with.
Before morning we contrived, with forked sticks and strings
of leather, a sort of snow-shoes, to prevent sinking
entirely; and, on the 15th, followed our guide west all day,
but he did not fulfil his promise; however the next day it
was impossible to fail: but even then, the 16th, he was
unsuccessful; yet still we were patient, because he seemed
well acquainted with the way, for he gave every mountain a
name, and shewed us several places, where he said his master
had either killed deer or encamped. The ground, or rather
the want of sunshine, made us incline to the southward, from
whence by accident we saw ice, at several miles distance, to
the south-east. I was very certain, that, after marching two
days west of South Bay, Lake George could not lie south-east
from us, and therefore concluded this to be the upper end of
the bay we had left. For this reason, together with the
assurances of our guide, I advised continuing our course to
the west, which must shortly strike Fort Anne, or some other
place that we knew. But Mr. ---- wished to be upon ice at
any rate; he was unable to continue in the snow, for the
difficulties of our march had overcome him. And really, Sir,
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