210 THE THREE WAR-PARTIES. [1690. 



Le Moyne d 'Iberville and Le Moyne de Bienville, 

 with Repentigny de Montesson, Le Ber clu Chesne, 

 and others of the sturdy Canadian noblesse, nerved 

 by adventure and trained in Indian warfare. 1 



It was the depth of winter when they began 

 their march, striding on snow-shoes over the vast 

 white field of the frozen St. Lawrence, each with 

 the hood of his blanket coat drawn over his head, 

 a gun in his mittened hand, a knife, a hatchet, a 

 tobacco pouch, and a bullet pouch at his belt, a 

 pack on his shoulders, and his inseparable pipe 

 hung at his neck in a leather case. They dragged 

 their blankets and provisions over the snow on 

 Indian sledges. Crossing the forest to Chambly, 

 they advanced four or five days up the frozen 

 Richelieu and the frozen Lake Champlain, and then 

 stopped to hold a council. Frontenac had left the 

 precise point of attack at the discretion of the 

 leaders, and thus far the men had been ignorant of 

 their destination. The Indians demanded to know 

 it. Mantet and Sainte-Helene replied that they 

 were going to Albany. The Indians demurred. 

 " How long is it," asked one of them, "since the 

 French grew so bold ? " The commanders an- 

 swered that, to regain the honor of which their 

 late misfortunes had robbed them, the French 

 would take Albany or die in the attempt. The 



1 Relation de Monseiynat, 1689-90. There is a translation of this 

 valuable paper in N. Y. Col. Docs., IX. 462. The party, according to 

 three of their number, consisted at first of 160 French and 110 Christian 

 Indians, but was reduced by sickness and desertion to 250 in all. Ex- 

 amination of three French prisoners taken by y e . Maquas {Mohawks), and 

 brought to Skinnectady, who were examined by Peter Schuyler, Mayor of Al- 

 bany, Domine (jodtvridus Dellius, and some of y* Gentle'} that went from 

 Albany a purpose. 



