290 June 1749. 



Indians, concealed themfelves one night in 

 a thicket near the fort. In the morning 

 fome of their Indians* as they had .previoufly 

 refolved, went to have a nearer view of the 

 fort. The Englijh fired upon them, as foon 

 as they faw them at a diftance ; the Indians 

 pretended to be wounded, fell down, got up 

 again, ran a little way, and dropped again. A- 

 bove half the garrifon rufhed out to take them 

 prifoners ; but as foon as they were come up 

 with them, the French and the remaining 

 Indians came out of the buihes, betwixt 

 the fortrefs and the .Englifo, furrounded 

 them, and took them prifoners. Thofe 

 who remained in the fort had hardly time 

 to mut the gates, nor could they fire upon 

 the enemy, becaufe they equally expofed 

 their countrymen to danger, and they were 

 vexed to fee their enemies take and carry 

 them off in their fight and under their 

 cannon. Such French artifices as thefe 

 made the Englijh weary of their ill-planned 

 fort. We faw fome of the palifades ftill 

 in the ground. There was an ifland in the 

 river, near Saratoga, much better fituated 

 for a fortification. The country is flat on 

 both fides of the river near Saratoga, and its 

 foil good. The wood round about was gene- 

 rally cut down. The mores of the river are 

 high,fteep, and confiil of earth. We law .fome 



hills 



