The headquarters of the English on the Lakes was at Oswego. This was the great rival of Niagara as a trading centre. When the war had raised the prices in France the French traders at Niagara raised their prices correspondingly—and even more. The Indians grumbled and went on to Oswego, where they could trade with the English to better advantage. The French, feeling that their trade with the Indians was being endangered urged an expedition against Oswego, and in 1756 Montcalm took the place by storm in the greatest battle which up to that time had been fought between the French and the English for control of the Lakes. This disaster followed closely upon the defeat of Braddock at Duquesne, made especially famous because of the presence of George Washington, the colonial, as junior officer, who, accustomed to the Indian manner of fighting, warned General Braddock, but whose advice the haughty English general thought beneath notice; and still more was heaped upon the unfortunate English when Montcalm defeated them at Ticonderoga. It certainly looked as if there must needs be a vigorous policy on the part of the English if they were to have any of the trade on the great inland waters. Pitt, the Premier of England, saw this and made plans for an aggressive campaign. In 1758 Colonel Bradstreet, with American provincials, captured Fort Frontenac, burned and sank seven vessels of war, captured sixty cannon and destroyed the Fort and incidentally the shipyard, which was the first upon the Great Lakes. This success greatly heartened the English and made them think how simple might be the conquest of other places if they had ships of war. It was the awakening of the English to the importance of “sea power” on the Lakes. Now Niagara was the centre of French power and influence, situated on the great portage which practically controlled the great trade from the West. The fort had been greatly strengthened during 1756-7, and the English carefully gathered a strong force. It was a real siege, in which the assailing force used trench warfare to make steady and safe advances. After nineteen days the garrison surrendered to Sir William Johnson, who was ranking commander on account of the deaths of the superior officers during the siege. Sir William had joined the investing force with 900 Indians, the largest number ever led into battle by a white man. When he entered the fort one of the most interesting of his companions was Joseph Brant, a Mohawk lad of 17, destined to become one of the most renowned men of his day. And now the English for the first time had access to the great fur trade. While speaking of this fort it will be of interest to note that in the common English speech of that day the pronunciation of the name of the fort was Niagàra. Our present pronunciation would have been impossible to the Iroquois tongue, which requires that each syllable should end in a vowel.