The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 1 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for IndependenceLossing, Benson John
History
The Pictorial Field-Book of the Revolution, Vol. 1 (of 2): or, Illustrations, by Pen And Pencil, of the History, Biography, Scenery, Relics, and Traditions of the War for Independence
Lossing, Benson John
United States -- History -- Revolution, 1775-1783
On the western shore of the lake, three miles northward of the little
village of Hague, is Rogers's Bock, or Rogers's Slide. The lake is here
quite narrow, and huge masses of rocks, some a hundred feet high, are
piled in wild confusion on every side. The whole height of Rogers's Rock
is about four hundred feet, and the "slide," almost a smooth surface,
with a descent on an angle of about twenty-five degrees from meridian,
is two hundred feet. This hill derives its name from the fact, that from
its summit Major Rogers, commander of a corps of Rangers, escaped from
Indian pursuers. With a small party who were reconnoitering at the
outlet of the lake, in the winter of 1758, he was surprised and put to
flight by a band of Indians. He was equipped with snow-shoes, and eluded
pursuit until he came to the summit of the mountain. Aware that they
would follow his track, he descended to the top of the smooth rock, and,
casting his knapsack and his haversack of provisions down upon the ice,
slipped off his snow-shoes, and, without moving them, turned himself
about and put them on his feet again. He then retreated along the
southern brow of the rock several rods, and down a ravine he made his
way safely to the lake below, snatched up his pack, and fled on the ice
to Fort George. The Indians, in the mean while, coming to the spot, saw
the two tracks, both apparently approaching the precipice, and concluded
that two persons had cast themselves down the rock rather than fall into
their hands. Just then they saw the bold leader of the Rangers making
his way across the ice, and believing that he had slid down the steep
face of the rock, considered him (as did the Indians Major Putnam at
Fort Miller) under the special protection of the Great Spirit, and made
no attempt at pursuit. **
In consequence of a detention at Bolton, we did not reach the landing-
place at the outlet of the lake until noon. Within a mile of the landing
is a small island covered with shrubbery, called Prisoners' Island,
where the French, in the Seven Years' War, kept their English captives
who were taken in that vicinity. The first party confined there easily
es-
* This sketch is from the lake, a little south of Cook's Point, seen
just over the boat on the left. Immediately beyond is seen the smooth
rock. Nearly opposite the "slide" is Anthony's Nose, a high, rocky
promontory, having the appearance of a human nose in shape when viewed
from a particular point.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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