353 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



censure general SbJrIey for inactivity and dclaj 

 in prosecuting the expedition to Niagara. In the 

 state tlie country was then iu, it was impossible 

 to compleiit such an CKpedition in the course of 

 one campaign. The n\ilitary services in which 

 he had been engaged in tlie course of the year, 

 were prosecuted with all the activity and j)ru- 

 dence the n:iture of the service v/ouid admit.-- - 

 Few men could have dene more, and probably 

 not one man in America at that time, could 

 have efFecled so much. When the winter was 

 approaching, hQ made tlie necessary arrange- 

 ments for the defence . of the place ; gave the 

 command to colonel Mercer, wath a garrison of 

 seven hundred men, Mith orders to continue the 

 works ; and on October the tuenty fourth set 

 out on a journey to Albany and Nev/- York, to 

 concert measures for the next campaign. 



The expedition against Crovv^n Point had 

 been put under the command of colonel Wil- 

 liam Johnson. This oiiicer was a native of Ire- 

 land and had lived several years in the Mohawk 

 country. There he had a fortified seat which 

 he called Mount Johnson, near one of the Mo- ' 

 hawk castles, and about thirty six miles from 

 Albany. He was well acquainted with the In- 

 dian temper and character, had gained the affec- 

 tions, and was become the principal confident of 

 the six nations ; on account of his influence 

 over them, Braddock had entrusted him with 

 jifty thousand pounds sterling to engage their 

 friendship and assistance, in the approaching 

 campaign. Next to him, v/as general L)'man 

 of Connecticut ; of a military turn, and good a- 

 bilities. The provincial troops to the number 



