TICONDEROGA, 1851.
After a sketch made in 1851. The ruins of Ticonderoga and the landing-wharf are seen on the right. The high hill on the left is Mount Defiance, on whose side Johnson and his Indians were posted during Abercrombie’s attack. At its base is the outlet leading to Lake George. The ruins in the foreground are a part of Fort Independence.
As it was, De Lévis, with a considerable force, arrived in the night. Sir William Johnson and some Indians opened fire in the morning across the river from the sides of Mount Defiance; but accomplished nothing, and took no further part in the day’s work. About noon the attack began in front, and all day long—now here, now there—the French repelled assaults which showed prodigies of valor and brought no reward. Some rafts, with cannon sent by Abercrombie to enfilade the French line, were driven back by the guns of the fort. At twilight the cruel work ceased. Abercrombie had lost nearly 2,000 men, and Montcalm short of 400.
ABERCROMBIE’S ATTACK ON TICONDEROGA, 1758.
From Almon’s Remembrancer, London, 1778, where it is called “Sketch of Cheonderoga or Ticonderoga, taken on the spot by an English officer, in 1759.”
A plan of the approaches and attack by Lieut. Meyer, of the 60th regt., is given in Parkman, ii. p. 94. Cf. other plans in Bancroft, orig. ed. iv.; Palmer’s Lake Champlain, p. 79, etc.
Montcalm was still anxious. He knew that Abercrombie had cannon, and had not used them. The most natural thing in the world for the English general would be to occupy the night in bringing the cannon up. In the morning Montcalm sent out to reconnoitre, and it was found that the English, still 13,000 strong, had reëmbarked, and all the signs showed the great precipitancy of their flight.
The French general could well rejoice, but he exaggerated his enemy’s strength to 25,000 and their losses to 5,000, which last was considerably more than the victor’s whole force.