664 [Assembly 



ting their, canoes and provisions, lie penetrated,, with singular 

 temerity and no less singular success, to La Prairie, amid numer- 

 ous forces of the French, and far within the line of their fortresses. 

 The merciless storm fell upon an unsuspectinej rural population, 

 engaged and rejoicing in their harvest. In the fell spirit that 

 characterized these scenes, none were exempted from slaughter 

 or captivity. Tne '• scalps of four women folks," were among 

 their trophies. Dwellings, barns, products of the field, " and 

 everything else which would take fire," were remorselessly con- 

 signed to the flames.* 



The next year, Peter Schyler, a controling spirit in the colony 

 and who swayed a potent influence over the rude affections of the 

 Mohawks, collecting three hundred warriors of the tribe, daringly 

 pursued the track of his brother, and asailed the same region. 

 Intrepid and able, he conducted the expedition with success, de- 

 featiLig the French in battles, and inflicting on them severe calami- 

 ties, and losses. ' 



The scenes perpetrated at La Prairie, were fearfully retaliated 

 and avenged in the rapine, captivity and massacre that devastated 

 the English settlements, exposed to these barbarous incursions. 



In the v/in'.er of 1704, amid the most intense frosts, and deepest 

 snows known to a Canadian climate, a band of savages, and 

 French partizans equally ferocious and vindictive, passing over 

 the ice of Lake Champlain, and penetrating on snow shoes through 

 the gorges of the Green Mountains, burst like a destroying tem- 

 pest upon the valley of the Connecticut. 



To general history, belongs the narrative of efforts for the " con- 

 quest of New-France," protracted for a period of two years from 

 1709, extending in their field of operations along the entire frontier 

 from Detroit to the Bay of Fandy, and embracing armaments, both 

 by land and sea. Policy, as well as the exasperated passions of 

 the colonies, aroused all their enthusiasm, and enlisted in sup- 

 port of the project, every energy and resource. This zeal was 

 neutralized, or defeated by the apathy, the imbecility or the neg- 

 ligence of the goverment of England. One provincial army, or- 



•Sohjler's Journal. 



