No. 112. J 70 



o 



These hordes were addressed by Burgoyne, in a speech profess- 

 iEg to restt'ain their ferocity, but calculated In its influence to in- 

 flame their savage passions. A war chief of the Iroquois, replied 

 with equal vehemence, pledging the tribes to an eternal warfare, 

 against the foes of England. A feast was held, the war-dance 

 celebrated, and these merciless savages let loose upon the colonies. 



Burgoyne, soon after, concentrated his forces at Crown Pointy 

 and there issued a turgid and declamatory proclamation addressed 

 to the American people, which v/as equally unsuccessful in exci- 

 ting their fears or winning their confidence. 



The interval occupied by these delays, had been vigorously em- 

 ployed by Gen. St. Clair in improving the strength of the origi- 

 nal fort at Ticonderogajand in erecting additional works. A lofty 

 * eminence, named Mt. Independence^ upon the eastern side of the 

 lake, he fortified, by a strong and extensive redoubt. Congress, 

 from inability or remissness, had failed to supply either muni- 

 tions, or a garrison competent to the adequate occupation of the 

 extended works. ^ 



Compelled by this fact to the course or swayed by a false se- 

 curity, St. Clair had neglected to occupy two other commanding 

 and important positions. One of these, called by him Mt. Hope, 

 to commemorate the higli expectations formed by its capture, 

 was seized on his advance by Gen. Frazer. The other, Mt. Defi- 

 ance, is situated on the south side of the outlet of Lake George. 

 Under the direction of Gen. Philips, the British had surmounted 

 the rugged slope of this eminence, in the night preceding the 5th 

 of July. With dismay and astonishment the Americans beheld 

 at the early dawn, its crest occupied by a battery* bristling with 

 ordinance and gleaming with the scarlet of the British uniform. 



Neither Ticonderoga nor Mt. Independence was longer tenable, 

 and a council of war decided without hesitation, to abandon both 

 works. These posts were connected by a floating bridge one 

 thousand feet in length. The same night, a division of the 

 American troops were defiling in silence and order over this 

 biidge unsuspected by the enemy, when suddenly the glare of a 

 burning house upon Mt. Indcj»endence shed a brilliant illumina- 

 tion over the scene and revealed their movements and position. 



• The niioB of tbijj battcrj are still vcrj diBtlD«t. 



