Sir William Johnson was regularly appointed and paid by government as Superintendent of Indian Affairs.] [Footnote 46: "Few countries could produce such dexterous marksmen, or persons so well qualified for conquering those natural obstacles of thick woods and swamps, which would at once baffle the most determined European. Not only were they strong of limb, swift of foot, and excellent marksmen, the hatchet was as familiar to them as the musket; in short, when means or arguments could be used powerful enough to collect a people so uncontrolled and so uncontrollable, and when headed by a leader whom they loved and trusted, a well-armed body of New York Provincials had nothing to dread but an ague or an ambuscade, to both of which they were much exposed on the banks of the lakes, and amid the swampy forests they had to penetrate in pursuit of an enemy."--_Memoirs of an American Lady_, vol. i., p. 203.] [Footnote 47: "Our artillery then began to play on them, and was served, under the direction of Captain Eyre ... in a manner very advantageous to his character."--_Letter from General Johnson to the Governor of New York._ Camp at Lake George, Sept. 9th, 1755.] [Footnote 48: "Just arrived from America, and to be seen at the New York and Cape Breton Coffee-house, in Sweeting's Alley, from 12 to 3, and from 4 till 6, to the latter end of next week, and then will embark for America in the _General Webb_, Captain Boardman, a famous Mohawk Indian warrior! the same person who took M. Dieskau, the French general, prisoner, at the battle of Lake George, where General Johnson beat the French, and was one of the said general's guards. He is dressed in the same manner with his native Indians when they go to war; his face and body painted, with his scalping knife, tom-ax, and all other implements of war that are used by the Indians in battle: a sight worthy the curiosity of every true Briton. "Price one shilling each person. "*** The only Indian that has been in England since the reign of Queen Anne."--_Public Advertiser_, 1755.] [Footnote 49: "There are flying reports that General Johnson, our only hero at present, has taken Crown Point."--Walpole's _Letters to Sir H. Mann_, Dec. 4, 1755.] [Footnote 50: "General Johnson complained that his troops seemed impressed with apprehensions of the enemy, from the boldness with which they had been attacked, and were unwilling, from the insufficiency of their clothing, want of provisions, and other causes, to proceed further on the enterprise; and, although urged by General Shirley, now commander-in-chief (since Braddock's death), to attempt Ticonderoga, even that object was abandoned."--Marshall's _Life of Washington_, vol. i., p. 318.] [Footnote 51: "They erected a little stockaded fort at the nether end of Lake George, in which they left a small garrison as a future prey for the enemy, a misfortune which might have been easily foreseen."--Smollett, vol. iii., p. 456.