HISTORY OF VERMONT. sfi 



London was appointed general and commander 

 in chief of all the forces in North America : 

 And that the favorite object with the British 

 ministry, was the reduction of Crown Point, 

 At this time, general Shirley had not receiv- 

 ed the king's orders, with respect to the late 

 plan of operations ; but was much engaged in 

 carrying it into effect. On these venth of May, 

 he arrived at Albany, and immediately began 

 his preparations for the campaign^ On the ^ 

 twenty fifth, he held a council of war, consisting 

 of lieutenant colonel Gage and Burton, majorss 

 Chapnlan and Sparks, Sir John St. Clair, and 

 Montresor, the chief engineer. With regard lo 

 the Niagara expedition, he informed the council 

 that upon lake Ontario, there was a naval force 

 of two vessels of ten carriage guns each ; two 

 row-gallies of ten swivels each ; and that he had 

 issued orders for building thre^ other vessels, 

 one of eighteen, one of sixteen, and one of 

 twelve carriage guns. Besides which, there 

 would be on that lake, two hundred and fifty 

 whale boats, each capable of carrying sixteen 

 men. With respect to the expedition against 

 Crown Point, the council were told, that th© 

 several colonies had voted to raise eight thou- 

 sand and eight hundred men, including those 

 which were in garrison at the forts Edward and 

 William Henry. The council were of opinion 

 that thirteen hundred men ought to be posted at 

 Oswego, and four hundred at the different posts 

 between that place and Schenectady. That 

 two British regiments, with the colony troops, 

 ivould be sufficient for the reduction of Crown 

 Point ; and that a fort ought immediately to be 



