124 COLLISION OF THE RIVAL COLONIES. [1759. 



to get at the enemy. In vain the English, with 

 their deep-toned shout, rushed on in heavy columns. 

 A tempest of musket balls met them, and Mont- 

 calm's cannon swept the whole ground with terrible 

 carnage. A few officers and men forced their way 

 through the branches, passed the ditch, climbed 

 the breastwork, and, leaping among the enemy, 

 were instantly bayonetted. The English fought 

 four hours with determined valor, but the position 

 of the French was impregnable ; and at length, 

 having lost two thousand of their number, the 

 army drew off, leaving many of their dead scattered 

 upon the field. A sudden panic seized the defeated 

 troops. They rushed in haste to their boats, and, 

 though no pursuit was attempted, they did not 

 regain their composure until Lake George was 

 between them and the enemy. The fatal lines of 

 Ticonderoga were not soon forgotten in the prov- 

 inces ; and marbles in Westminster Abbey preserve 

 the memory of those who fell on that disastrous day. 

 This repulse, far from depressing the energies of 

 the British commanders, seemed to stimulate them 

 to new exertion ; and the campaign of the next 

 year, 1759, had for its object the immediate and 

 total reduction of Canada. This unhappy country 

 was full of misery and disorder. Peculation and 

 every kind of corruption prevailed among its civil 

 and military chiefs, a reckless licentiousness was 

 increasing among the people, and a general famine 

 seemed impending, for the population had of late 

 years been drained away for military service, and 

 the fields were left untilled. In spite of their suf- 



