HISTORY OF VERMONT. 407 



hundred and forty eight were made prisoners. 

 In the mean time the English columns, having lost 

 their order in the wood, became embarrassed 

 and perplexed ; and the troops were in danger, 

 and in a few instances had already fired on each 

 other. The general, perceiving their fatigue 

 and disorder, thought it advisable not to spend 

 the night in such a situation, but to march them 

 back to the place where they had landed. 



The next day colonel Bradstreet was sent to 

 take possession of the saw mills. With a de- 

 tachment of. one regiment of regular troops, six 

 companies of the royal Americans, the batteau 

 men, and a body of rangers, he took possession 

 of the post without opposition. I'his post be- 

 ing secured, the general again, advanced his ar- 

 my against the enemy 



The fort at Ticonderoga w^as in a situation 

 favorable for defence. On three sides, the for- 

 tress was surrounded with water ; on the fourth, 

 nature had secured it with a dangerous morass, 

 which could not be passed without much diiii- 

 cultv. The fort was secured with a breast work 

 eight feet high, planted with artillery. The 

 ground before it was covered with an abattis, 

 or large trees cut and disposed for defence. 

 Much labor had been employed to sharpen, in- 

 terweave, and project their branches, so that 

 they could not be passed or removed without 

 difficulty and time. The prisoners which had 

 been taken, informed general Abercrombie, that 

 the force of the enemy consisted of eight bat- 

 talions, with a body of Canadiniis and Iiidlans, 

 amountins: in the whole to six thousand men. 

 That another body of troops of three thousand 



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