n 



82 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



success in America. The conquest of Osv/ega 

 had raised his fiime among the Indians, and 

 sciven him the command of almost all their tribes 

 and commerce. He pursued the advantages he 

 had obtained with much discretion and address. 

 The EuQ-lish had destroyed their forts at the 

 great carrying place, and in other parts of the 

 Indian country, to prevent their falling into the 

 hands ofihe French ; and the whole country of 

 the six nations vas abandoned to the enemy. 

 The Frencli commanders availed themselves of 

 all the errors and defeats of the English. They 

 carried (ire and sword into the Indian country ; 

 and by> rewards, promises, and threatenings, 

 were incessantly endeavoring to draw over the 

 six nations to their interest ; and they had the 

 most flattering prospects of success. These na- 

 tions alone, of all the Indian tribes, had been 

 sincere and faithful in their attachment to the 

 English. The forts, and communications v/ith 

 their tribes were cut off, their country was a- 

 bandoned to the incursions and ravages of their 

 enemies, and their English allies had met with 

 little else than disappointment and defeat in all 

 their expeditions against the French. In such 

 circumstances it required all the ability and ad- 

 dress of sir William Johnson, to prevent their 

 deserting the English cause and interest. 



Br the departure of lord Loudon from Ncav 

 York, the command of the British forces had 

 devolved on major general Webb. Montcalm 

 saw that a favorable opportunity vvas presented 

 to attack the English on lake George. He had 

 made an attempt on the twentieth of March, to 

 carry fort WiUlani, Henry by surprise ; but hi* 



