HISTORY OF VEnMONT. 427 



Johns ; and being situated in the midst of the 

 stream, tffcotuaiiy commands the passage into 

 C mada, in that quarter. At this place, M. ..]e 

 Burlemagnc had collected a force consisting of 

 three battalions, and five piquets of regular troops 

 and a bodr of Canadians and marines, amount- 

 ing in the whole to three thousand and five hun- 

 died men ; provided with a numerous artillery, 

 and every requisite for defence. '1 he lake was 

 defended by four larQ-e vessels, mounted with 

 cannon, and manned with piquets from different 

 legiments ; under the command of M. le Brass, 

 a captain in the French navy, assisted by M, de 

 Rigel, and other sea officers. With this force, 

 M. de Burlemaq-ne encamped and fortified at the 

 Isle Anx Noix ; meaning to make a stand a- 

 gainst the British forces. And Amherst could 

 not proceed down the lake till he had construct- 

 ed^ naval force superior to that of the Frencli.* 



In the mean time it was thou2;ht best to make 

 the enemy feel the f ^rce and resentment of the 

 Knfylish colonies. The Indians had not as yet 

 discontinued their atlemnts to disturb and dis- 

 tress the frontiers. Amono: these tribes none 

 had been more bloody and cruel than that of St. 

 Francois. Their villae-e was situated on the 

 south side of the river St. Lawrence, not far 

 from Trois Rivieres. So early as the year 1703, 

 the governor of Canada had drawn ofi'a large 

 number of Indians from Penobscot, Norrige- 

 wock, Saco, PigVi'acket, and other parts of the 

 eastern country and settled them at Becancour 

 and St. Francois. By uniting them with the la- 



* Ssnollct's Hist. EpglaJKi, Vol. J, p. 47«. 



