574 i^ATURAL AND CIVIL 



Albany, to lay before general Abercrombie, tKc? 

 intelligence he had obtained, of the danger 

 which threatened Oswego. The prisoners he 

 had ta];cn in his late actions, informed him that 

 twelve hundred of the enemy were encamped 

 on lake Ontario, at but a little distance from the 

 Eni^lish forts ; that they were provided with 

 artillery, and ail otl^er implements necessary for 

 a siege ; and that they meant to commence their 

 operations, as soon as some expected reinforce- 

 ments should arrive. Upon this intelligence 

 orders were issued to general Webb, to hold 

 himself in readiness to march for the defence of 

 Oswego, widi tiie forty fourth British regiment. 

 "While the British generals were thus specula- 

 tii'ig about Oswego, Lord Loudon who had been 

 appointed to the chief command in North A- 

 merica, arrived at New York, July the twenty- 

 third, and reached his head quarters at Albany^- 

 tlie twenty ninth ; and immediately took upon 

 himself the command of the troops. Amidst 

 the parade and ceremonies attending the arrival 

 and reception of the British generals, the affairs 

 of the war v/ere not attended to ; and it was not 

 till the tvvelfth of August that Webb set out 

 with his regiment from Albany for the preser- 

 vation of Oswego. He had proceeded on his 

 journey but a few days, when he received news* 

 that Oswego was actually besie.^ed by a large 

 army of French and Indians. Alarmed for his- 

 own safety, he made a forced march to the 

 Oneida carrying place ; when he immediately 

 began to throw up works for his own defence,, 

 and to fall the trees in Wood Creek, to prevent 

 the enemy from approaching his own camp* 



