The Bay State Monthly — Volume 2, No. 4, January, 1885Various
History
The Bay State Monthly — Volume 2, No. 4, January, 1885
Various
Massachusetts -- Periodicals; New England -- Periodicals
The adroitness with which Rogers sometimes extricated himself from
extreme peril is illustrated by his conduct on one occasion, when
pursued by an overwhelming number of savages up the mountain, near the
south end of Lake George, which now bears his name. Upon reaching the
summit he advanced to the very verge of the precipice, on the east side,
which descends 550 feet to the lake. Having here reversed his snow shoes
he fled down the side opposite to that by which he had come up. Arriving
soon after the Indians, upon seeing the tracks of two men, apparently,
instead of one, and Rogers far below upon the ice, hastening towards
Fort Edward, concluded that he had slid down the precipice aided by the
Great Spirit, and that farther pursuit was vain.
Mr. Pitt proposed in the campaign of 1759 the entire conquest of Canada.
Bold as was the undertaking it was substantially accomplished.
Ticonderoga and Crown Point were abandoned in July, Fort Niagara
capitulated the same month, and Quebec was surrendered in September.
Their violation of a flag of truce in this last month now called
attention to the St. Francis Indians, who had been for a century the
terror of the New England frontiers, swooping down upon them when least
expected, burning their buildings, destroying their cattle, mercilessly
murdering their men, women, and children, or cruelly hurrying them away
into captivity. The time had now come for returning these bloody visits.
The proffering of this delicate attention was assigned by Major General
Amherst to Rogers. In his order, dated September 13, he says: "You are
this night to set out with the detachment, as ordered yesterday, viz.,
of 200 men, which you will take under your command and proceed to
Misisquey Bay, from whence you will march and attack the enemy's
settlements on the south side of the river St. Lawrence in such a manner
as you shall judge most effectual to disgrace the enemy, and for the
success and honour of his majesty's arms.
* * * * *
"Take your revenge, but don't forget that tho' those villains have
dastardly and promiscuously murdered the women and children of all ages,
it is my orders that no women or children are killed or hurt."
In pursuance of these orders Major Rogers started the same day at
evening. On the tenth day after he reached Missisquoi Bay. On the
twenty-third, with one hundred and forty-two Rangers, he came, without
being discovered, to the environs of the village of St. Francis. The
Indians had a dance the evening following his arrival and slept heavily
afterwards. The next morning, half an hour before sunrise, Rogers and
his men fell upon them on all sides, and in a few minutes, ere they had
time to arouse themselves and seize their arms, the warriors of that
village were dead. A few, attempting to escape by the river, were shot
in their canoes. The women and children were not molested.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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