120 COLLISION OF THE RIVAL COLONIES. [1755. 



This memorable conflict has cast its dark associ- 

 ations over one of the most beautiful spots in 

 America. Near the scene of the evening fight, a 

 pool, half overgrown by weeds and water lilies, and 

 darkened by the surrounding forest, is pointed out 

 to the tourist, and he is told that beneath its stag- 

 nant waters lie the bones of three hundred French- 

 men, deep buried in mud and slime. 



The war thus begun was prosecuted for five 

 succeeding years with the full energy of both 

 nations. The period was one of suffering and 

 anxiety to the colonists, who, knowing the full 

 extent of their danger, spared no exertion to avert 

 it. In the year 1758, Lord Abercrombie, who then 

 commanded in America, had at his disposal a force 

 amounting to fifty thousand men, of whom the 

 greater part were provincials.^ The operations of 

 the war embraced a wide extent of country, from 

 Cape Breton and Nova Scotia to the sources of the 



half of the engraving, the French army is represented lying in ambus- 

 cade in the form of a horseshoe. Hendrick is conspicuous among the 

 English, from being mounted on horseback, while all the others are on 

 foot. In the view of the battle at the lake, the English are represented 

 lying flat on their faces, behind their breastwork, and busily firing at the 

 French and Indians, who are seen skulking among the woods and 

 thickets. 



I am again indebted to President Sparks for the opportunity of exam- 

 ining several curious manuscripts relating to the battle of Lake George. 

 Among them is Dieskau's official account of the affair, and a curious 

 paper, also written by the defeated general, and containing the story of 

 his disaster, as related by himself in an imaginary conversation with his 

 old commander, Marshal Saxe, in the Elysian Fields. Several writers 

 have stated that Dieskau died of his wounds. This, however, was not 

 the case. He was carried prisoner to England, wliere he lived for several 

 years, but returned to France after the peace of 1763. 



1 Hohnes, II. 226. 



