HISTORY OF VERMONT. 36T 



turned, it was not improbable they might have 

 increased the confusion and consternation, till 

 it issued in a dispersion of their troops. By 

 making a halt, and firing in platoons at a dis- 

 tance in which it could have no effect, the pro- 

 vincials acquired experience, found the enemy'? 

 fire to be harmless, that their own was much bet- 

 ter directed, and did the most execution. It was 

 also a great misfortune to the French army, that 

 their general continued the attack, long after it 

 was found to be unsuccessful, and unavailing. 



A VICTORY at tliat time was so unusual in 

 America, that not to have lost a battle passed 

 for an act of much merit and heroism ; and 

 Johnson w'as much commended that he had not 

 been defeated. His conduct however did not 

 pass without some severe remarks and censure. 

 It was said there was no generalship in the man- 

 agement of any part of the business ; that an 

 army of four thousand men, with artillery, and 

 a breast work, could not be in any danger from 

 such an enemy ; and ought to have destroyed 

 their whole army. But most of all was he 

 censured for not sending outa detachment in pur- 

 suit of a defeated, retreating army ; this was 

 warmly urged by general Lyman, but was oppo- 

 sed by general Johnson, and most of his field 

 officers. Instead of making any attempt to pur- 

 sue the enemy or to move forward to Ticonde- 

 roga, the day after the battle Johnson wrote to 

 the governors of the colonies for a reinforce- 

 xnent ; informed them that he expected another 

 attack, and that the enemy would come on v/ith 

 their artillery ; that he should order the troop:^ 

 at fort Edward, to reinforce him ; and that as 



