'HISTORY OF VERMONT. 333 



troops had been defeated by the vigilance and 

 bravery of the garrison. Several of the enemy 

 were slain, but they did not return till they had 

 burned two sloops, & one on the stocks ; ahnost 

 all the batteaux, three store houses, all the huts 

 of the rangers, and every thing that was not un- 

 der the command of the fort. At the opening 

 of the spring, a detachment of near four hun- 

 dred men v/ent down the lake under the com- 

 mand of colonel John Parker, in batteaux and 

 whale boats, to attempt the enemy's advaacC'd 

 guard at Ticoiideroga. Parker vv-as deceived in 

 his intelligence, decoyed into the midst of a 

 large b^it concealed party of the enemy, and at- 

 tacked with such impetuosity and success, that 

 but two Oiiicers and seventy privates escaped. 

 Encouraged by this success, and the departure 

 of lord Loudon to Halifax, and wishing to re- 

 trieve the misfortune of the defeat at fort Wil- 

 liam Henry, Montcalm drew his forces top-ether 

 and made preparation to lay siege to that place. 

 For this purpose he assembled at Crown Point 

 and Ticonderoga, a large body of regular troops, . 

 Canadians, and Indians, amounting to ,n£ar ten 

 thousand men. 



One of the great diHiculties attending the 

 American campaigns, was the article of intelli- 

 gence ; to procure information of the strength 

 and movements of the enemy. l'he.,inpst that 

 was obtained, was generalh' by means of scout- 

 £ig and ranging parlies. Some of the officers 

 of the New Hampshire troops, were much dis. 

 tinguished for their abilities and exploits in ser- 

 vices of this kind. To three of them, Robert 

 Rogers, John Stark^ and ^^illiara Stark, ranging.. 



