HISTORY OF VERMONT. »7 



the lake ; and Carleton found it necessary^ to' 

 land his army at Crown Point. The Ameri- 

 cans, on the defeat of their fleet, had set fire to 

 tftiis fortress, destroyed every thing they could 

 not carry away, abandoned the place, and re- 

 treated to the naain body at Ticonderoga. At 

 that place they were much engaged in strength-; 

 ening their works, and preparing for defence. 

 In eight days they had made carriages for forty 

 seven pieces of cannon, and had them properly 

 mounted, surrounded their works with abattis,- 

 done much on their entrenchments, received 

 considerable reinforcements, and put things in a 

 readiness for defence on every quarter. Gen- 

 eral Gates was now twelve thousand strong ; 

 the men were eifective, and the most that had 

 been sick were recovered. In this situation he 

 was not unwilling that general Carleton should 

 make an attempt to carry the place, at that late 

 season of the year. 



That wise and judicious commander did 

 not however move his army from Crown Point, 

 but remained there nearly a month, till the ap- 

 pearances of xvinter began to take place. De- 

 tachments and reconnoitring parties advanced at 

 one time on both sides of the lake, and proceed- 

 ed within a small distance from the works ; and 

 at the same time some vessels approached with- 

 in cannon shot of the forts, examined tlie direc- 

 6on of the channel, and sounded its depth. It 

 was supposed the British general was proeurkig 

 the necessary information in order to move on, 

 and make a general assault ; but the apparent 

 strength of the works, the difficulties that would 

 attend a regular approach, the countenance of 



