4 



CIVIL HISTORY OF VERMONT. 



Part. II. 



MONTREAL BURNT. 



SALMON RIVER FORT TAKEN. 



SCHENECTADY DESTROYED. 



Section III. 



French and English Colonies — Transac- 

 tions in the vicinity of Vermont from 

 1638 to 1705. 



Although both the French and English 

 colonies had long been in the habit of fur- 

 nishing the Indians with arms, ammuni- 

 tion, provisions and clothing, when going 

 to war either among themselves, or witli 

 an opposite colony; yet previously to the 

 year 168!), no expedition had ever been 

 fitted out in one colony for the express 

 purpose of aiding the Indians in their dep- 

 / redations upon another. This year it was 

 resolved by the French to attempt, by the 

 aid of tiie Canada Indians, the conquest 

 of the province of New York, which had 

 now been for some time in possession of 

 the English. They looked upon tiiis 

 course as the only effectual method of 

 Bubduing their most inveterate and troub- 

 lesome enemy, the Iroquois.* 



It was proposed tiiat a large body of 

 Canadians and Indians should march by 

 the way of lake Champlain, and fall upon 

 Albany and the other northern settle- 

 ments ; and that the city of New York 

 should be at the same time attacked by a 

 fleet,ordered for that purpose from France. 

 But while preparations were makino- and 

 before the arrival of the fleet, the Iroquois 

 made a descent upon Canada, plundered 

 and burnt Montreal and broke up most of 

 the frontier settlements. Frontenac, tlie 

 French general, was so much dishearten- 

 ed by these calamities, that he relinquish- 

 ed the hope he had entertained of con- 

 quering New York, but he considered 

 some attempt against the English settle- 

 ments indispensable, in order to revive the 

 drooping spirits of tiie Canadians and In- 

 dians. 



Two parties were therefore sent out. 

 One of these, under the command of M. 

 Hertel, on the ]8th of March, 1690, suc- 

 ceeded in destroying the fort at Salmon 

 falls in New Hampshire, where they slew 

 30 of the English and took 54 prisoners, 

 whom Ihey carried to Canada. The other 

 party, consisting of 200 French and 50 

 Indians, commanded by D'Aillebout, set 

 out from Montreal in the beginning of 

 January, and, proceeding by the way of 

 lake Champlain, directed their inarch to- 

 wards Schenectady, a settlement on the 

 Mohawk river, 14 miles northwest from 

 Albany. But on account of the length of 

 their march through deep snows in the 



* The Iroquois, or Six Nations, had their chief 

 residence on the Mohawlt river, and to the soutli^ 

 ward of Lake Ontario in the state of Now York, 

 but their predatory excursions and the terror of 

 tlieir arms extended to a great diitance around. 



midst of winter, they were reduced to 

 such extremities of hunger and fatigue, 

 when they arrived in the vicinity of this 

 place, that they thought seriously of sur- 

 rendering themselves to the English as 

 prisoners of war. They, however, sent 

 forward their spies, who reported, on their 

 return, that the inhabitants were in no 

 apprehension of danger — that the soldiers 

 were few and undisciplined, and that the 

 place was in no condition for defence. 



Encouraged by this intelligence, the 

 party moved forward, and on the 8th of 

 February, 1690, at 11 o'clock in the even- 

 ing, they entered the village of Schenec- 

 tady, and, separating into small parties, 

 appeared before every house at tiie same 

 time. Never was a place more complete- 

 ly surprised. Without the least appre- 

 hension of danger the inhabitants had just 

 retired to their beds, and, while their 

 senses were now locked in the soundest 

 sleep, the terrible onset was made. A 

 general shriek aroused the place, and to 

 many it was the shriek of death. The 

 terrified and bewildered inhabitants at- 

 tempted to rise from their beds, but they 

 rose only to meet the tomaliawk, which 

 was lifted for their destruction. The whole 

 village was instantly in flames ; and to 

 add to this heart rending scene, the infer- 

 nal yell of the savage was incessantly 

 commingled with the shrieks and the 

 groans of the dying. 



In this massacre no less than 60 per- 

 sons perislied ; and 27 were taken prison- 

 ers and carried by the French and In- 

 dians into captivity. They, who escaped 

 the hands of the enemy, fled nearly na- 

 ked towards Albany through a deep snow, 

 which had fallen that very night. Of 

 those who succeeded in reaching Albany, 

 no less than 25 lost some one, or more, of 

 their limbs by the severity of the frost. 

 The news of this awful tragedy reached 

 Albany about day break and spread uni- 

 versal consternation among the inliabit- 

 ants. The enemy were reported to be 

 1400 strong, and many of the citizens of 

 Albany advised to destroy the city and 

 retreat down the river towards New York. 

 But Col. Schuyler and some others at 

 length succeeded in rallying tiie inhabit- 

 ants, and a party of horse soon set off for 

 Schenectady. Not thinking themselves 

 suflicieiitly strong to venture a battle, the 

 enemy were suffered to remain in the 

 place till noon, when, having destroyed 

 the whole village, they returned to Cana- 

 da with their prisoners, and with 40 of the 

 best horses loaded with the spoils. 



On the first of May following, comrais. 

 sioners from the several English colonies 

 met at the city of New York for the pur- 



