368 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



soon as the fresh troops should come on, he 

 should immediately set about building a fort. 

 How far the intelligence which Johnson had, 

 might justify this extreme caution, we cannot 

 now determine. The event was, that instead 

 of risking any thing against the enemy, he spent 

 the remainder of the campaign in building a 

 fort at the south end of lake George, which has 

 since been called fort William Henry.* 



Thus terminated the American campaigns 

 in the year 1755. The plans had been chiefly 

 formed by governor Shirley ; an able and judi- 

 cious statesman, well acquainted with American 

 affairs, and deeply engaged in the interest of the 

 colonies. They appeared to have been so well 

 concerted, that the}' were approved and con- 

 firmed by general Braddock, and the council 

 which he assembled at Alexandria. One only 

 had succeeded : That at NoA'a Scotia, though 

 ostensibly under the command of Monckton, 

 had been principally conducted by colonel 

 Winslow ; and had fully effected the purpose 

 of subduing tlie French in that province, and 

 preserving it to the British dominions. The 

 expedition under Braddock was conducted with 

 extreme imprudence and rashness, and had ter- 

 minated in destruction and disG:race. The Nia- 

 gara expedition under Shirley, v\"as too exten- 

 sive in its plan and object, to be com])leated in 

 one campaign. At the northward, the baron 

 Dieskau had given Johnson an opportunity to. 

 obtain a victory, without leaving his camp, or> 

 exposing himself to any danger. Braddocl; 



« Johnson'* JaUct »I Septewber 9, 175,? 



