[grant] THE CAPTURE OF OSWEGO BY MONTCALM 195 



up reinforcements, including the celebrated engineer, Patrick Mac- 

 kellar 1 . 



Meanwhile the French were concentrating at Fort Frontenac, 

 then often known by its Indian name of Cataraqui or Cadaraqui, 

 the modern Kingston. In the early spring they had also formed a 

 permanent camp of Canadians and Indians at Niaouré Bay, the 

 modern Sackett's Harbor. In May Montcalm, the new French 

 Commander in Chief, reached Montreal, and went down to watch 

 the centre of the British position at Ticonderoga. Satisfied that 

 De Levis, his second in command, could hold the British in check 

 with the forces at his disposal, he determined on a bold exploit. On 

 16th July he left Ticonderoga; travelling day and night he was at 

 Montreal on the 19th. After a conference there with Vaudreuil, 

 the Governor, he set out on the 21st, and on the 29th reached Fort 

 Frontenac. A week of devouring activity followed. The militia 

 were drilled, the Indians exhorted, over 200 batteaux got ready and 

 loaded with provisions, arms, and artillery. On the evening of the 4th 

 August he set out, spent most of the following day on Wolfe Island, 

 and on the 6th August reached Sackett's Harbor, where on the 7th 

 he was joined by the first division of his forces. On the 8th August 

 the Canadians and Indians moved forward to Anse-aux-cabanes, 

 less than 10 miles from Oswego. On the same day the second division 

 from Kingston reached Sackett's Harbor. On the 9th August Mont- 

 calm set out from Sackett's Harbor and reached Anse-aux-cabanes 

 that night. On the 10th he pushed forward, and concentrated 

 3,000 men with ample stores and over 80 cannon within a mile and a 

 half of the Fort before the British were aware of his presence. 2 Seldom 

 was surprise more complete. On the 12th August there was some 

 hard fighting. On the 13th Fort Ontario on the east bank of the Os- 

 wego river was evacuated and its garrison retired safely across the 

 river to Fort Oswego. During the night Montcalm threw up batteries, 

 by a shot from one of which Colonel Mercer was killed on the morning 

 of the 14th. A few hours later the Fort surrendered. 



All this is told in graphic fashion with abundance of detail by 

 Parkman and by M. Chapais. M. Chapais also discusses with admir- 



1 The account of Mackellar in the Dictionary of National Biography gives an 

 inaccurate and indeed absurd account of his supposed defence of Oswego. 



2 21st August. The Earl of Loudoun, Commander in Chief in North America, 

 to Henry Fox, Secretary of State. French deserters from the Marine Companies 

 who had reinlisted in Shirley's and Pepperel's Regiments and escaped from Oswego 

 had come in and testified "that on Monday, the 9th, the garrison sent out a row 

 galley, the crew of which upon their return reported that they had seen the French 

 camp at about 1 mile distant from Fort Ontario." See also Captain Broadley's 

 letters of 15th Nov., 1756, and 22nd Jan., 1757, in Appendix. 



